WordWeb Online

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 [informal]
    
3. Break or fall apart into fragments
   "The cookies fell apart";
   - crumble
    
4. Become separated into pieces or fragments
   "The freshly baked loaf fell apart";
   - break, separate, split up, come apart

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

See also: fall

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