collision

[ kuh-lizh-uhn ]

noun

1. the act of colliding; a coming violently into contact; crash:

   the collision of two airplanes.

2. a clash; conflict:

   a collision of purposes.

3. Physics. the meeting of particles or of bodies in which each exerts a force upon the other, causing the exchange of energy or momentum.

collision

/ kəˈlɪʒən /

noun

1. a violent impact of moving objects; crash
2. the conflict of opposed ideas, wishes, attitudes, etc

   a collision of interests

3. physics an event in which two or more bodies or particles come together with a resulting change of direction and, normally, energy

Other Words From

• col·lision·al adjective
• anti·col·lision adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of collision¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Late Latin collīsiōn- (stem of collīsiō ), equivalent to collīs ( us ) (past participle of collīdere to collide ) + -iōn- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of collision¹

C15: from Late Latin collīsiō from Latin collīdere to collide

Example Sentences

Two Metropolitan Police officers are under criminal investigation after a pregnant woman and her baby died in a collision with an unmarked police car in south-east London.

From BBC

Figures for Northern Ireland show young drivers are over-represented in collision statistics.

From BBC

Snow left one road impassable and collisions on two others roads, with schools across mid and north-east Wales shut on Tuesday morning.

From BBC

The possibility of increased deportations and workplace raids, however, could put him on a collision course with Democratic-leaning states and jurisdictions that may decide to push back or not co-operate.

From BBC

The collision that brings the teenage protagonists of “Fireworks” together is as cute as meet-cutes get.

From New York Times