implode

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ɪmˈploʊd/ UK /ɪmˈpləʊd/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to collapse violently inward; to break down catastrophically

The abandoned building was set to implode in a controlled demolition.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to collapse violently... collapse cave crumple disintegrate crash

Opposites

explode expand burst

Word family

Derived forms imploderimploding

Related forms implosion explode plaudit

Simplified etymology

Implode was formed in the late 19th century on the pattern of explode, using in- “within.”

Etymology

Coined in the 19th century from in- ('inward') on the model of explode, the latter from Latin explodere ('to drive off by clapping'), from ex- + plaudere ('to clap').

plaudere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# implode

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ɪmˈploʊd/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪmˈpləʊd/

## Meanings
1. to collapse violently inward; to break down catastrophically

## Examples
- The abandoned building was set to implode in a controlled demolition.

## Synonyms
- collapse
- cave
- crumple
- disintegrate
- crash

## Antonyms
- explode
- expand
- burst

## Derived Forms
- imploder
- imploding

## Related Forms
- implosion
- explode
- plaudit

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: plaudere

## Etymology
Coined in the 19th century from in- ('inward') on the model of explode, the latter from Latin explodere ('to drive off by clapping'), from ex- + plaudere ('to clap').

## AI Etymology
Implode is traced through this development: Coined in the 19th century from in- ('inward') on the model of explode, the latter from Latin explodere ('to drive off by clapping'), from ex- + plaudere ('to clap'). The prefix supplies the first semantic turn, while the base carries the lexical core of the word. As a verb, it means "to collapse violently inward; to break down catastrophically", so the modern sense keeps the older action or relation visible. Relevant historical forms include Latin plaudere. Derivative forms include imploder, imploding; related words include implosion, explode, plaudit.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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