What is "give way"

vb. 1 To yield to persistent persuasion. 2 To collapse or break under physical stresses. 3 To be followed, succeeded, or replaced by. 4 To give precedence to other road users.

1. v. move in order to make room for someone for something; "The park gave way to a supermarket"; "`Move over,' he told the crowd" [syn: move over, give, ease up, yield]

2. break down, literally or metaphorically; "The wall collapsed"; "The business collapsed"; "The dam broke"; "The roof collapsed"; "The wall gave in"; "The roof finally gave under the weight of the ice" [syn: collapse, fall in, cave in, give, break, founder]

3. end resistance, especially under pressure or force; "The door yielded to repeated blows with a battering ram" [syn: yield]

4. stop operating or functioning; "The engine finally went"; "The car died on the road"; "The bus we travelled in broke down on the way to town"; "The coffee maker broke"; "The engine failed on the way to town"; "her eyesight went after the accident" [syn: fail, go bad, die, give out, conk out, go, break, break down]