collapse to the size

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "collapse to the size" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a process where something reduces in size or volume, often in a physical or metaphorical context. Example: "The structure began to collapse to the size of a small pile of rubble after the earthquake."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The reason a hydrogen atom does not collapse to the size of the proton is usually discussed with only a qualitative reference to the uncertainty relation.

Journal of Theoretical and Applied Physics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The incredibly strong magnetic fields surrounding white dwarfs aged stars with the mass of our sun or greater that have collapsed to the size of a planet could generate unusual types of chemical bonds, a new study suggests.

Science Magazine

White farmers and their black employees were violently forced out, food production plummeted, and the economy collapsed to half the size it had been in 1980.

Wikipedia

Without fresh sediment and dead plants, shorelines began to collapse, increasing the size of existing water bodies.

Huffington Post

If the population size is truly constant through time the generalized skyline plot estimate of population size collapses to the phylogenetic coalescent estimator proposed by Felsenstein [ 13].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Emergency measures to prevent economic collapse boosted the size and power of government in many countries.The trend is unlikely to change soon, even as fiscal pressures compel governments to unwind their large stimulus packages.

The Economist

They have mesh lining that allow air to escape, thus allowing them to collapse to their smaller sizes.

WikiHow

Moreover, the suspended gypsum interlayers periodically collapse as the size of the salt cavern increases.

Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering

But Mr. Andersen said that a new technology would allow one-liter plastic bottles to be shipped collapsed into the size of salt shakers.

The New York Times

You could have scrubbers and a variety of simpler things that make everything collapse to a smaller tunnel size, which dramatically lowers the cost … The whole concept of what you do with tunnels changes".

TechCrunch

We use the two component dynamic virial equation, supplemented by an evolution equation for the energy to investigate the time taken by an inhomogeneous cloud to dissipate its binding energy and collapse to one-tenth the original size, inside a dark matter halo.

Advances in Space Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "collapse to the size" when you want to emphasize a rapid or dramatic reduction in size, often with implications of instability or failure.

Common error

Avoid using "collapse to the size" to describe slow or gradual reductions in size. This phrase implies a sudden or forceful reduction. Use alternatives like "shrink" or "reduce" for gradual changes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "collapse to the size" functions as a verb phrase describing an action involving a reduction in dimensions. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It indicates a transformation where an object or entity is reduced to a certain size, implying a decrease in physical dimensions.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "collapse to the size" is a phrase used to describe a dramatic reduction in size, often associated with failure or a sudden change. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability, although its occurrence is rare. The phrase is primarily found in scientific and news contexts, maintaining a neutral register. While grammatically sound, its infrequent usage suggests a need for careful consideration of context and alternative phrasing. To recap, the phrase functions as a verb phrase and you can consider alternatives as "shrink to the size".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shrink to the dimensions of

Emphasizes a reduction in all measurable aspects.

reduce to the measure of

Highlights a decrease towards a specific target measurement.

diminish to the scale of

Implies a lessening in proportion or magnitude.

contract to the volume of

Focuses on a decrease in the amount of space occupied.

lessen to the extent of

Suggests a reduction in degree or intensity.

dwindle to the proportion of

Indicates a gradual decrease in relative amount.

compress to the girth of

Highlights a squeezing or pressing into a smaller space.

condense to the magnitude of

Implies making something denser or more compact.

abbreviate to the extent of

Suggests a shortening or curtailing.

degrade to the format of

Implies a reduction in quality or condition alongside size.

FAQs

How can I use "collapse to the size" in a sentence?

You can use "collapse to the size" to describe something rapidly reducing in size, often implying failure or instability. For example, "After the earthquake, the building collapsed to the size of a small pile of rubble."

What does "collapse to the size" mean?

It means something has dramatically reduced in physical dimensions, often implying a structural failure or sudden compression.

What are some alternatives to "collapse to the size"?

You can use alternatives like "shrink to the size", "reduce to the size", or "diminish to the size" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "collapse to the size" instead of "shrink to the size"?

"Collapse to the size" is best used when describing a sudden, often catastrophic, reduction in size, whereas "shrink to the size" implies a more gradual reduction.