crash

¹

[ krash ]

verb (used without object)

1. to make a loud, clattering noise, as of something dashed to pieces.
2. to break or fall to pieces with noise.
3. (of moving vehicles, objects, etc.) to collide, especially violently and noisily.
4. to move or go with a crash; strike with a crash.
5. Aeronautics. to land in an abnormal manner, usually causing severe damage:

   The airliner crashed.

6. to collapse or fail suddenly, as a financial enterprise:

   The stock market crashed.

7. Informal. to gain admittance to a party, performance, etc., without an invitation, ticket, or permission.
8. Slang.
   1. to sleep.
   2. to have a temporary place to sleep or live without payment:

      He let me crash at his house.

   3. to fall asleep:

      I get home in the evening and I just crash till it's time for dinner.

9. Slang. to experience unpleasant sensations, as sudden exhaustion or depression, when a drug, especially an amphetamine, wears off.
10. Medicine/Medical Slang. to suffer cardiac arrest.
11. Ecology. (of a population) to decline rapidly.
12. Computers. to shut down because of a malfunction of hardware or software.

verb (used with object)

1. to break into pieces violently and noisily; shatter.

   Synonyms: smash, break

2. to force or drive with violence and noise (usually followed by in, through, out, etc.).
3. Aeronautics. to cause (an aircraft) to make a landing in an abnormal manner, usually damaging or wrecking the aircraft.
4. Informal.
   1. to gain admittance to, even though uninvited:

      to crash a party.

   2. to enter without a ticket, permission, etc.:

      to crash the gate at a football game.

noun

1. a sudden loud noise, as of something being violently smashed or struck:

   the crash of thunder.

2. a breaking or falling to pieces with loud noise:

   the sudden crash of dishes.

3. a collision or crashing, as of automobiles, trains, etc.
4. the shock of collision and breaking.
5. a sudden and violent falling to ruin.

   Synonyms: ruin, failure

6. a sudden general collapse of a business enterprise, prosperity, the stock market, etc.:

   the crash of 1929.

7. Aeronautics. an act or instance of crashing.
8. Ecology. a sudden, rapid decline in the size of a population.

adjective

1. characterized by an intensive effort, especially to deal with an emergency, meet a deadline, etc.:

   a crash plan to house flood victims; a crash diet.

crash

²

[ krash ]

noun

1. a plain-weave fabric of rough, irregular, or lumpy yarns, for toweling, dresses, etc.
2. Bookbinding. starched cotton fabric used to reinforce the spine of a bound book.

crash

¹

/ kræʃ /

noun

1. a coarse cotton or linen cloth used for towelling, curtains, etc

crash

²

/ kræʃ /

verb

1. to make or cause to make a loud noise as of solid objects smashing or clattering
2. to fall or cause to fall with force, breaking in pieces with a loud noise as of solid objects smashing
3. intr to break or smash in pieces with a loud noise
4. intr to collapse or fail suddenly

   this business is sure to crash

5. to cause (an aircraft) to hit land or water violently resulting in severe damage or (of an aircraft) to hit land or water in this way
6. to cause (a car, etc) to collide with another car or other object or (of two or more cars) to be involved in a collision
7. to move or cause to move violently or noisily

   to crash through a barrier

8. informal.
   short for gate-crash
9. intr (of a computer system or program) to fail suddenly and completely because of a malfunction
10. slang.
    intr another term for crash out
11. crash and burn informal.
    to fail; be unsuccessful

noun

1. an act or instance of breaking and falling to pieces
2. a sudden loud noise

   the crash of thunder

3. a collision, as between vehicles
4. a sudden descent of an aircraft as a result of which it hits land or water
5. the sudden collapse of a business, stock exchange, etc, esp one causing further financial failure
6. modifier
   1. requiring or using intensive effort and all possible resources in order to accomplish something quickly

      a crash programme

   2. sudden or vigorous

      a crash halt

      a crash tackle

7. crash-and-burn informal.
   a complete failure

Derived Forms

• ˈcrasher, noun

Other Words From

• crasher noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of crash¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; 1920–25 crash ¹fordef 16; 1870–75 crash ¹fordef 22; Middle English crasche, blend of crase “to break” and masche “to crush, pulp”; craze, mash ¹

Origin of crash²

First recorded in 1805–15; probably from Russian krashenína “painted or dyed coarse linen,” equivalent to kráshenyĭ “painted” (past participle of krásit' “to paint”) + -ina noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of crash¹

C19: from Russian krashenina coloured linen

Origin of crash²

C14: probably from crasen to smash, shatter + dasshen to strike violently, dash ¹; see craze

Example Sentences

Officers tried to stop the car, but the driver crashed into their patrol car and the three women tried to escape on foot.

From Los Angeles Times

As members of the crash recovery crew search for survivors among the wreckage, they encounter mysterious predatory life forms more terrifying than they could have ever imagined.

From Salon

They said Ms Allen-Wyatt used multiple reasons for not doing them, including car crashes, lack of pitch availability, schedule clashes, her hen party and her wedding.

From BBC

A third officer, who was a passenger in the car involved in the crash, is also being investigated for potential misconduct.

From BBC

The wife of a motorcyclist who could have been saved after a crash, had it not been for an ambulance delay, has spoken of her pain at being a widow aged 28.

From BBC

Related Words

• bump
• collapse
• collide
• ditch
• dive
• drop
• hurtle
• meet
• overturn
• plunge
• slip
• smash
• topple
• tumble