ENGLISH
REFERENCE

collide

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //kəˈɫaɪd// UK //kəlˈaɪd// col·lide Literary

v. to hit something or someone else with a lot of force while moving. It usually happens by accident when two things are traveling toward each other.

v. to strike or hit something with force while in motion; to crash into another object. Often used to describe physical impacts or, metaphorically, the meeting of opposing ideas or interests.


SIMPLE

The two cars collide at the intersection.

CONTEXTUAL

Astronomers predict that two distant galaxies will eventually collide, creating a massive new star system over millions of years.

COMPLEX

The drama in the play stems from the moment the protagonist's personal ambitions collide with his family's traditional expectations, forcing a choice between loyalty and self-interest.

Synonyms
Origin

From Latin collidere (“to strike or clash together”), from com- (“together”) + laedere (“to strike, dash against, hurt”); see lesion.

Usage

Intransitive verb; typically takes the preposition 'with' when an object is specified.

Pitfall

The car collided the wall.The car collided with the wall.Collide is an intransitive verb and requires the preposition 'with' before the object.

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