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Synonyms

collide

American  
[kuh-lahyd] / kəˈlaɪd /

verb (used without object)

collided, colliding
  1. to strike one another or one against the other with a forceful impact; come into violent contact; crash.

    The two cars collided with an ear-splitting crash.

    Synonyms:
    clash, smash, hit
  2. to clash; conflict.

    Their views on the matter collided.


verb (used with object)

collided, colliding
  1. to cause to collide.

    drivers colliding their cars in a demolition derby.

collide British  
/ kəˈlaɪd /

verb

  1. to crash together with a violent impact

  2. to conflict in attitude, opinion, or desire; clash; disagree

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of collide

1615–25; < Latin collīdere to strike together, equivalent to col- col- 1 + -līdere, combining form of laedere to strike

Explanation

It could be protons bouncing around in a particle accelerator, two cars failing to stop at an intersection, or the priorities of two people with very different goals. When things crash together, they collide. The verb collide has roots in the Latin word collidere, which comes from col- or “together” and laedere, “to strike or damage," like planes that collide in midair. Collide can also describe ideas that clash, such as expectations that collide with reality or radical views that collide with tradition.

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Vocabulary lists containing collide

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Bob Elder, founder and president of Collide Media Group in Franklin, Tennessee, said grass-roots marketing demands much more time than flooding the market with slick commercials.

From Washington Times • Jul. 26, 2018

These are issues Cummings plans to explore further in a pilot she's working on for HBO based on Maureen Dowd's book "Are Men Necessary? When Sexes Collide."

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 23, 2016

They released their latest studio effort, Collide, this past October.

From Forbes • Jan. 2, 2015

The 23-year-old DJ had two other top five hits in 2011 - Collide with Leona Lewis and Levels, which was later sampled by Flo Rida for his 2012 number one hit Good Feeling.

From BBC • Jul. 21, 2013

Collide, kol-īd′, v.i. to dash together: to clash.—p.adjs.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various