Implode

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To collapse or burst inward violently, often due to external pressure ; to fail completely or suddenly in a dramatic manner
2. When something caves in on itself with force, often causing destruction ; to break down or collapse suddenly, especially due to internal problems
3. To contract or crush inward abruptly, typically under immense pressure ; to undergo a rapid and total failure, often resulting in ruin

Etymology: "Implode" is a back-formation: English speakers first had the noun "implosion", formed on the model of "explosion", and the verb was then carved out of that noun by dropping the ending. "Explosion" pairs with "explode" in the same way, so "implosion" looked like it should have a verb partner, and "implode" filled that gap. The noun itself is the older and more basic piece, so the verb is a secondary creation rather than the starting point. The pattern runs in the opposite direction from most verbs. Usually a noun is formed from a verb by adding a suffix, but here the process reversed, and a verb was produced by removing one. The result is a word whose meaning is the mirror image of its famous relative: where "explode" describes something bursting outward, "implode" describes the same violent force acting inward, with the surrounding material rushing toward a central point.

Synonyms: collapse, cave in, crush, fall in, break down

Antonyms: explode, expand, inflate, burst, rise