The act or process of flattening or collapsing in a manner similar to a stack of pancakes, often used to describe a structural failure where floors collapse onto each other.

The building's pancaking during the earthquake resulted in significant damage and loss of life.

The act or process of becoming flattened or spread out like a pancake in any context, not limited to structural failure.

Improper landing can lead to the aircraft pancaking on the runway.

pancakinggerundium / partizip präsens

Flattening or collapsing in thin, broad layers; serving as an attribute before a noun.

Engineers inspected the pancaking floors for additional reinforcement.

pancakeverb

To collapse, flatten, or land heavily in a broad, flat shape.

The roof pancaked under the weight of the snow.

In aviation, to make a flat, hard landing with little or no flare.

The pilot pancaked the old biplane onto the grass strip.