 |
| |||||||||
lapse2 [intransitive]
1 to gradually come to an end or to stop for a period of time : 
The conversation lapsed.
The conversation lapsed.2 if a contract, agreement etc lapses, it comes to an end, usually because an agreed time limit has passed : Your booking will automatically lapse unless you confirm it.
Your booking will automatically lapse unless you confirm it.3 to stop believing in or following a religion : those people who have lapsed from the practice of their religion
those people who have lapsed from the practice of their religion4 formal if a period of time lapses, it passes : Many years had lapsed since her first visit to Wexford.
Many years had lapsed since her first visit to Wexford.lapse into something
phrasal verb1 to go into a quiet or less active state : He lapsed into a coma and died two days later. Alison lapsed into puzzled silence.
lapse into unconsciousness/silence/sleep etc
He lapsed into a coma and died two days later.Alison lapsed into puzzled silence.2 to begin to behave or speak in a way that you did before : She lapsed back into her old ways. Occasionally he lapsed into his native German.
She lapsed back into her old ways.Occasionally he lapsed into his native German.3 to get into a worse state or become worse : Following his death, the Empire lapsed into chaos. His poetry often lapses into sentimentality.
Following his death, the Empire lapsed into chaos.His poetry often lapses into sentimentality.
