collasso

Collasso is a noun in Italian that denotes a sudden and complete failure or collapse of a system, structure, organization, or organism. The term is used across diverse fields to describe a rapid loss of stability or integrity, often accompanied by a dramatic change in state. Adjectives such as finanziario, strutturale, nervoso, or gravitazionale commonly accompany collasso to specify the context.

Etymology and usage. Collasso derives from medieval Latin collapsus and was adopted into Italian through French and other European languages. It is sometimes used interchangeably with crollo, especially in non-technical speech, but collasso often emphasizes abrupt failure or breakdown, sometimes with a connotation of internal collapse rather than external breaking.

Medicine and clinical use. In medical language, collasso describes a sudden collapse of the circulatory system or loss of stability due to shock, severe dehydration, trauma, or systemic decompensation. It denotes an emergency state, distinct from less abrupt episodes of fainting, and may require immediate intervention to restore circulation and perfusion.

Physics and astronomy. In physics and astronomy, collasso gravitazionale refers to the contraction of a massive body under its own gravity when internal pressure cannot counterbalance gravity. This process underpins the fate of massive stars and can lead to phenomena such as core-collapse supernovae, neutron stars, or black holes, depending on the mass and physical conditions involved.

Other uses. The word also appears in engineering and economics to describe structural failure or a rapid economic downturn, respectively—a structural collasso after extreme loading or a financial collasso during a market crash.

See also: sycope, crollo, implosione, collasso gravitazionale, collasso economico.