a collapse of time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a collapse of time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing time perception, temporal events, or philosophical concepts related to time. Example: "In the dream, there was a collapse of time, where past and future merged into a single moment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"There's a collapse of time.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

And history, always more than an academic subject, becomes for the audience a collapsing of time.

Encyclopedia Britannica

At the end of Claudio Abbado's performance of Bruckner's Fifth Symphony with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, what I experienced – along with thousands of others in the hall, and thousands more listening on Radio 3 – felt like a vision of infinity, a collapsing of time and space into a single point of brilliance and intensity.

The Guardian - Music

When the currency – the kyat – was moved from a regulated rate to a managed float in early April, the initial level jumped quickly from the earlier official rate of 6.4 to the US dollar to 818 – a collapse of nearly 130 times.

The Guardian - Opinion

Snarkitecture And Chromeo UnveiLookingry Collatorathis.

Vice

Traders also worried that Cyprus was running out of time to avoid a collapse of its financial system.

The New York Times

There could be several possible reasons related to this deviation, (1) due to low electrical conductivity of porous structure of AC of inner pores that are not accessible to ions and (2) nonzero time constant and elevated transient current, resulting in a longer capacitor charging time and a collapse of the rectangular shape [21, 22].

Nanoscale Research Letters

But Mr. Miller argued that the main objective, at the time, was preventing a collapse of the financial sector.

The New York Times

Greenaway's "Eisenstein in Guanajuato" infused the medium with the multi-dimensional injection of kundalini viscerally collapsing of time and space into a bold vision of the cyclical life/death/rebirth journey resurrecting the great Russian filmmaker.

Huffington Post

The collapse of linear time made for a leap into sacred marriage as a cross-section of the vertical/hierarchical and the horizontal horizon.

Huffington Post

I realize based on the timeline, we sat together on the floor of the 75 West Street lobby for no longer than 29 minutes; the space between each tower collapse and a space of time I remember feeling like eternity.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a collapse of time" when describing subjective experiences or artistic representations where the normal progression of time is disrupted or altered. For example, use it in contexts such as dreams, memories, or altered states of consciousness.

Common error

Avoid using "a collapse of time" in literal, physical contexts. This phrase is best suited for describing conceptual or psychological experiences rather than, for instance, the decay of a physical object over time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a collapse of time" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a subject or object within a sentence. It describes a state or phenomenon, referring to a disruption in the normal flow or perception of time. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a collapse of time" describes the disruption or alteration of the normal flow of time, often used in contexts exploring altered states of consciousness, artistic representations, or philosophical musings. As Ludwig AI suggests, this phrase is grammatically correct and can be used in various contexts. While not overly common, it appears in reputable sources such as The New Yorker, Encyclopedia Britannica, and The Guardian, indicating its acceptance in formal writing. Related concepts include "temporal distortion" and "temporal compression", which offer alternative ways to express similar ideas.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

temporal distortion

Replaces "collapse" with "distortion", emphasizing an alteration of time rather than a complete breakdown.

temporal compression

Focuses on the idea of time being shortened or condensed.

the breakdown of chronology

Highlights the disruption of the sequential order of events.

the fusion of past and present

Emphasizes the merging of different time periods.

an alteration of temporal perception

Shifts focus to the subjective experience of time being changed.

time dilation

Refers to the slowing down of time, often in a physics context.

temporal disruption

A more general term for any disturbance in the normal flow of time.

the cessation of time

Suggests time has stopped or no longer exists.

timelessness

Conveys the absence of time or being unaffected by time.

a merging of timelines

Suggests distinct temporal sequences combining into one.

FAQs

How can I use "a collapse of time" in a sentence?

You can use "a collapse of time" to describe a situation where the normal perception or sequence of time is disrupted, such as, "The film depicted a surreal world where there was "a collapse of time", with past, present, and future coexisting simultaneously."

What is the meaning of "a collapse of time"?

"A collapse of time" suggests a disruption or merging of different moments in time, leading to a non-linear or altered experience of temporality. It often implies a loss of the conventional sense of past, present, and future as distinct entities.

What can I say instead of "a collapse of time"?

Alternatives to "a collapse of time" include "temporal distortion", "temporal compression", or "the breakdown of chronology", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a collapse of time" a common phrase?

"A collapse of time" isn't a particularly common phrase in everyday conversation but is more frequently encountered in literary, philosophical, or theoretical contexts where discussions of time and its perception are central.