collapse lap=slip

collapse [kə'læps]
to fall down suddenly because of pressure or having no strength or support
If someone collapses, they fall down because they are ill or weak
to fold something into a smaller shape, usually so it can be stored, or (especially of furniture) to fold in this way
vi. 倒塌；瓦解；暴跌;(椅子等)折叠起来
vt. 使倒塌，使崩溃；使萎陷
n. 倒塌；失败；衰竭

例句
Having been neglected for years, the house collapsed.
这所房子因年久失修而倒塌了。
Their project collapsed for lack of money.
他们的计划因缺钱而告失败。
His health collapsed because of overwork.
他的身体因工作过度而垮掉了。
The weight of snow collapsed the roof.
积雪的重压使屋顶倒塌了。
He collapsed the wheelchair and put it on the boat.
他将轮椅折叠起来放在船上。

耶鲁公开课 - 弥尔顿课程节选
That's because it's here where the rigid polarities between light and dark and good and evil, all of these absolute oppositions, begin to collapse.

这是因为这里就是光与暗,善与恶之间严格的两极分化，及所有绝对的对比开始崩塌的地方

lapse [læps]
a small mistake, especially one that is caused by forgetting something or by being careless
a period of time between two things that happen
an example or period of bad behaviour from somebody who normally behaves well
to stop believing in or practising your religion
n. 失效；过失；(时间的)流逝,间隔[(+of)]；偏离[(+from)]
vi. 失效；流逝；背离；陷入

例句
He sometimes lapses from good behavior.
他有时行为失检。
We talked nonstop at first, but soon lapsed into silence.
开始我们谈个不停,但过不多久我们陷入了沉默
Several hours lapsed before he woke up.
过了好几个小时他才醒。
The lease has lapsed.
这一租约已经失效。

elapse [i'læps]
If time elapses, it goes past
vi. 消逝；时间过去
n. 流逝；时间的过去

例句
Months had elapsed before I heard from my friend again.
好几个月过去后我才再次收到我朋友的信。

昨日重现

2002年6月CET-6真题

Many years had_____before they returned to their original urban areas.

A.floated
B.elapsed
C.skipped
D.proceeded

答案B

TEM-4

My passport____last month, so I will have to get a new one.

A.elapse
B.expired
C.ended
D.terminated

本题正确答案：
B.expired
本题解析：
【句意】我的护照上个月期满，我得换个新的。【难点】elapse意为“时间消逝”;expire意为“(期限等)终止；开始无效”；terminate意为“终止”，相当于end，但比end正式，为及物动词。