implode

C2+ Topic:Space, Position & Direction

US /ɪmˈploʊd/ UK /ɪmˈpləʊd/ See IPA manual

verb

Meanings

1

verb
to collapse violently inward; to break down catastrophically

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

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

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

Space, Position & Direction

# 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
- Space, Position & Direction

markdown

implode

Meanings

Thesaurus

Etymology

Topics

Keyboard Shortcuts

General

Send feedback