坠落 (zhuì luò) is a compound verb meaning 'to fall'—especially suddenly, uncontrollably, or from a height. The first character 坠 (zhuì) means 'to drop' or 'to sink', often implying weight, gravity, or loss of support; the second character 落 (luò) means 'to land' or 'to descend', reinforcing downward motion and completion. Together, they emphasize a rapid, often dramatic descent—commonly used for objects, people, aircraft, or even abstract concepts like stock prices or morale.

This word carries a slightly formal or literary tone and appears frequently in news reports, safety warnings, literature, and technical contexts. It’s stronger and more vivid than the simpler verb 掉 (diào) or 落下 (luò xià), and usually suggests danger, failure, or irreversible decline—not just neutral dropping. It’s rarely used for gentle or intentional descent (e.g., stepping down stairs), where 下 (xià) or 降 (jiàng) would be more appropriate.