I.to fall together, to fall in ruins; esp. of buildings, to fall in, fall from age (in the ante-Aug. period very rare; not in Cic., Hor., or Quint.).
I. Prop., Liv. 35, 9, 3: “moenia subito collapsa ruinā sunt,” id. 29, 18, 17; Suet. Aug. 30; id. Claud. 25; id. Calig. 21: “fastigium domūs collabitur,” id. Caes. 81: “qui collapsā jacuere ruinā,” Sil. 7, 727: “succisis asseribus collapsus pons,” Liv. 44, 5, 6. postquam conlapsi cineres, Verg. A. 6, 226: “eodem anno duodecim celebres Asiae urbes collapsae nocturno motu terrae,” Tac. A. 2, 47: “AEDES VETVSTATE COLLAPSA,” Inscr. Orell. 26.—Of persons, to fall or sink down in a swoon or in death: “suscipiunt famulae collapsaque membra Marmoreo referunt thalamo,” Verg. A. 4, 391; 8, 584; Ov. M. 7, 826; 5, 96; 6, 295; Tac. A. 2, 31; Suet. Ner. 42; Curt. 4, 10, 19; 7, 6, 22; 8, 2, 39; Petr. 94; Val. Fl. 7, 152; Stat. Achill. 1, 195; cf.: “ferro collapsa,” Verg. A. 4, 664.—
B. Transf.: “ossa morbo collapsa,” Verg. G. 3, 485: collapsa tempora, oculi concavi, temples fallen in or sunken, Cels. 2, 6: “iter urinae senectute collapsum,” id. 7, 26.—
II. Trop. (very rare): “in corruptelam suam,” Plaut. Truc. 3, 2, 3: “ira in se ipsa collapsa,” Val. Max. 6, 2, 10: “in fata,” Cod. Just. 5, 14, 9.