to collapse; to crumble; to fall apart

an open sore on an external or internal surface of the body caused by a break in the skin or mucous membrane

to defeat; to smash; to rout

a sore in the lining of the stomach

to be utterly defeated or routed

to fester; to ulcerate

(of troops) to be routed and dispersed

(of troops) to be utterly routed and dispersed

to flee in disorder

defeated and dispersed troops

(of a dike or dam) to burst

to collapse on the first encounter or give way at once

to rout the enemy

(of a sore etc) to fester or ulcerate

(of a dam) to be breached; to burst

A small oversight or minor flaw can lead to the total collapse of a massive undertaking; literally, an ant hole can cause a thousand-mile dike to burst.