collapse

Compared meaning: a sudden failure of something (noun).

比较义项：（系统、结构或事物）突然失效、崩溃（名词）。

• crash

  Emphasizes a sudden, abrupt, often violent failure with little or no warning; typically used for machines, computers, markets or vehicles.

  强调突然、剧烈、几乎毫无预警的失效，常用于机器、电脑、市场或车辆等。

  The stock market crashed suddenly, wiping out millions in savings overnight.

  股市突然崩盘，一夜之间蒸发了数百万存款。

• collapse 本词

  Emphasizes losing support and falling or giving way, often after gradual weakening over time; typically used for buildings, structures, systems or economies.

  强调因失去支撑力而倒塌或垮掉，常带有经过长期削弱后终于崩溃的意味，多用于建筑物、结构、体系或经济。

  The old warehouse roof finally collapsed after years of rain damage.

  那座旧仓库的屋顶经过多年雨水侵蚀，终于倒塌了。

Crash and collapse both mean a sudden failure, but differ. Crash means a sudden, violent failure with little warning, for machines or markets. Collapse means losing support and falling apart after weakening, for buildings or economies. Not covered: crash as collision, or collapse as fainting.

这两个词在此义项上都指某物突然失效或垮掉，但语气不同：crash 强调突然、剧烈、毫无预警，常用于机器、电脑、市场等；collapse 强调因长期失去支撑力而倒塌、瓦解，常带有逐渐削弱后终于垮掉的意味，多用于建筑、桥梁、体系或经济。这里不比较 crash 的“猛撞、碰撞事故”义，也不比较 collapse 的“虚脱、昏倒”（人体）义。

Compared meaning: to fall down or collapse suddenly or slowly (verb).

比较义项：（建筑物、系统或人的姿态、情绪等）突然或逐渐地倒塌、崩溃、瓦解（动词）。

• collapse 本词

  The all-purpose word for total, sudden failure; used broadly for buildings, systems, or a person losing strength, without the rolling motion of tumble or the fragment-by-fragment sense of crumble.

  最通用的词，指彻底、突然的失效；可广泛用于建筑、系统或身体虚脱，没有 tumble 那种滚动跌落的意味，也没有 crumble 那种一点点碎裂的过程。

  The old bridge collapsed without warning during the storm last night.

  那座旧桥在昨晚的暴风雨中毫无预警地倒塌了。

• tumble

  Emphasizes a fall with a rolling or toppling motion, often of a person or object losing balance; less suited to describing slow structural failure like crumble.

  强调像滚动、跌倒一样地摔落，常用于人或物体失去平衡的情形；不太适合表示像 crumble 那样缓慢的结构性损坏。

  He lost his balance and tumbled down the steep staircase.

  他没有站稳，从陡峭的楼梯上一路翻滚着摔了下去。

• crumble

  Highlights a slow, gradual process of breaking into pieces over time, typically for old buildings or long-lasting things; rarely describes one sudden instant of failure.

  强调随着时间缓慢地一点点碎裂瓦解的过程，常用于老旧建筑或持续很久的事物，很少表示某一瞬间突然的失效。

  The ancient castle walls have been slowly crumbling for centuries.

  这座古老城堡的墙壁几个世纪以来一直在慢慢崩塌瓦解。

• crumple

  Describes something suddenly folding or giving way, as if crushed like paper; often used for a person's face, posture, or resistance collapsing emotionally in an instant.

  描述某物像纸张被揉皱一样突然瘪下去、崩溃，常用于人的表情、姿态或抵抗力在瞬间于情感上崩溃。

  Her smile crumpled the instant she read the tragic news.

  她一读到那则悲惨的消息，笑容瞬间就垮了下来。

Collapse, tumble, crumble, and crumple all mean to fall down suddenly or slowly. Collapse is the general word for total, sudden failure. Tumble stresses a rolling, toppling fall. Crumble means breaking apart slowly, over time. Crumple means suddenly giving way, like a face losing control.

这四个词都能表示（建筑、系统或人的姿态、情绪等）倒塌、崩溃、瓦解，但过程和语气不同：collapse 最通用，强调彻底失效；tumble 强调像滚动、跌倒一样地摔落；crumble 强调随时间一点点碎裂瓦解的过程；crumple 强调像纸张被揉皱一样突然瘪下去，多用于人的表情或抵抗力。这里不比较 crumple「把纸张等揉皱」的字面义。