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 Word Forms

• collisional adjective
• anticollision 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

Five years later it was one of the largest firms in Yugoslavia and on a collision course with Marshal Tito, country's communist dictator.

From BBC

The blackout comes a month after YouTube avoided a collision with Rupert Murdoch’s Fox Corp.

From Los Angeles Times

A man has died following a road traffic collision in east Belfast.

From BBC

"Colleagues from the serious collision investigation unit are still investigating the collision, and specialist family liaison officers will continue to support Faizaan's family in the coming days and weeks."

From BBC

He said his chair has been malfunctioning since the collision.

From Los Angeles Times