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come apart

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come apart

to break apart; to break up. The missile came apart in midair. I was afraid our car would come apart on that rough road.

See also: apart, come

come apart

to stop working effectively Parents are saying that the school has come apart since the principal left. If the agreement comes apart, we'll just have to put a better one together.

Related vocabulary: come apart at the seams

See also: apart, come

come apart

v.

1. To be separated into parts; disintegrate; break apart: The roof of the old building is starting to come apart and needs to be replaced.

2. To be capable of being separated into parts: This picnic table comes apart into five pieces that easily fit in the car.

3. To begin to fail, especially by losing coherence or due to internal conflict: My schedule is getting so busy that my plan to visit Poland is coming apart. Halfway through the proposal, their arguments in favor of buying the house came apart.

4. To be suddenly unable to cope with negative emotions; have an emotional breakdown: When I heard the news about their death, I completely came apart.

See also: apart, come