çökme

Çökme is a Turkish noun meaning the act of collapsing, subsiding, or falling in. It derives from the verb çökmek (to sink, fall, collapse) with the nominalizing suffix -me.

In geology and geomorphology, çökme describes the sudden subsidence or collapse of ground, often due to karst processes, underground caverns, or land deformation. Sinkholes and cave-ins are common forms of geological çökme; it can be triggered by dissolution of soluble rocks, groundwater withdrawal, mining, or seismic shaking.

In engineering and construction, çökme refers to the collapse of a structure or part of one, such as a roof, floor, or wall, due to overloading, material fatigue, foundational failure, or earthquakes. It may occur gradually (subsidence) or abruptly (collapse).

In civil planning and disaster management, çökme events pose safety hazards to occupants and can lead to evacuations and economic losses.

In everyday Turkish, çökme can also denote economic or political collapse, reduced performance, or a sudden downturn.

Related terms include çökmek (to collapse) as the verb form.

See also subsidence, sinkhole, structural failure.