collide

[ kuh-lahyd ]

verb (used without object)

, col·lid·ed, col·lid·ing.

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)

, col·lid·ed, col·lid·ing.

1. to cause to collide:

   drivers colliding their cars in a demolition derby.

collide

/ kəˈlaɪd /

verb

1. to crash together with a violent impact
2. to conflict in attitude, opinion, or desire; clash; disagree

Word History and Origins

Origin of collide¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of collide¹

C17: from Latin collīdere to clash together, from com- together + laedere to strike, wound

Example Sentences

Yes, electric fields formed by colliding dust grains can help increase the amount of dust in the atmosphere.

From Science News

In 2017, Mizera was struggling to analyze how objects in string theory collide when he stumbled upon tools pioneered by Israel Gelfand and Kazuhiko Aomoto in the 1970s and 1980s as they worked with a type of cohomology called “twisted cohomology.”

From Quanta Magazine

As the pandemic has collided with protests for racial justice, parents are looking for answers.

From Ozy

When those crystals collide with the ammonia-water droplets, they may charge up and create lightning, Becker and her colleagues reason.

From Science News

As the gamma rays travel through space, they sometimes collide with other passing photons, morphing into an electron and a positron as a result.

From Quanta Magazine

The situation could lead to a serious accident where an airliner might collide with a Russian bomber.

From The Daily Beast

See: “Mean Girls of Panem,” “Where Harry Potter and Mean Girls Collide,” “Les Mean Girls.”

From The Daily Beast

But there can be no rules to limit the subconcussive hits that occur every time bodies this big collide.

From The Daily Beast

Viewers love the show because it contrasts rich and poor, upstairs and down, particularly when the two worlds collide.

From The Daily Beast

Cultural cliches collide in a marvel of 18th-century silkwork.

From The Daily Beast

He knew, as may be said, that they were everywhere, and he was liable to collide with them at the most unexpected moments.

From Project Gutenberg

The sail was up and, while braking the load upwind, I slipped and fell, allowing the sledge to collide with a large sastruga.

From Project Gutenberg

On Berlin itself, and the Mark of Brandenburg; there to collide, and ignite in a marvellous manner.

From Project Gutenberg

At any crossing you are liable to run over some pedestrian or to collide with a big truck or carriage.

From Project Gutenberg

The interests of body and soul run on parallel lines, and so long as right order is maintained they cannot collide.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bang
• break up
• bump
• crash
• hit
• shatter
• sideswipe
• smash
• strike