collision
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
an accident where two or more moving objects hit each other with force.
an instance of two or more moving objects striking one another with significant force.
Simple“The car was badly damaged in a collision with a delivery truck.”
In context“The investigation concluded that the mid-air collision was caused by a failure in the ground-based radar system rather than pilot error.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
a strong disagreement between different ideas, cultures, or interests.
a metaphorical clash or conflict between opposing ideas, interests, or cultural values.
Simple“The film explores the collision between traditional values and modern life.”
In context“The summit was marked by a sharp collision of interests between the industrialised nations and the developing economies regarding carbon emissions.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
an event where two objects affect each other with force, even if they do not touch.
any event in which two or more bodies exert forces on each other in a relatively short time, where physical contact is not strictly necessary.
Simple“Scientists study the collision of particles to understand the laws of nature.”
In context“In high-energy physics, the collision of subatomic particles allows researchers to observe the fundamental building blocks of matter.”
Synonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
an error that happens when two pieces of data try to use the same name or space.
an event where two different inputs to a hash function produce the same output, or when two devices attempt to transmit data simultaneously on a shared network.
Simple“The software crashed because of a naming collision in the database.”
In context“The algorithm was designed to minimise the probability of a hash collision, ensuring that each unique record could be retrieved efficiently.”
Usage collision occurred
“The approach could sharpen satellite tracking and help reduce the growing risk of collisions in increasingly crowded orbits.”
“And - along with e-bikes - they can end up involved in collisions where pedestrians are hurt.”
From Middle French collision, from Late Latin collīsiō, from Latin collīdere, past participle collīsus (“to dash together”); see collide. cf. allision.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.