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1. Lose one's emotional or mental composure
   "She fell apart when her only child died"
   - go to pieces, fall to pieces
    
2. Go to pieces
   "The old chair finally fell apart completely"
   - break, wear, wear out, bust
    
3. Break or fall apart into fragments
   - crumble
    
4. Become separated into pieces or fragments
   "The freshly baked loaf fell apart"
   - break, separate, split up, come apart

Derived forms: falls apart, fallen apart, fell apart, falling apart

See also: fall

Type of: break down, change integrity, crumble, decay, dilapidate, disintegrate, lose it, snap