# collision

/kəˈɫɪʒən/ (US) · /kəlˈɪʒən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/collision
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a physical crash

noun · CEFR B2

an accident where two or more moving objects hit each other with force.

For teachers: an instance of two or more moving objects striking one another with significant force.

- The car was badly damaged in a collision with a delivery truck.
- The investigation concluded that the mid-air collision was caused by a failure in the ground-based radar system rather than pilot error.

### 2. a conflict of ideas

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a strong disagreement between different ideas, cultures, or interests.

For teachers: a metaphorical clash or conflict between opposing ideas, interests, or cultural values.

- The film explores the collision between traditional values and modern life.
- The summit was marked by a sharp collision of interests between the industrialised nations and the developing economies regarding carbon emissions.

### 3. physics interaction

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

an event where two objects affect each other with force, even if they do not touch.

For teachers: 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.

- Scientists study the collision of particles to understand the laws of nature.
- In high-energy physics, the collision of subatomic particles allows researchers to observe the fundamental building blocks of matter.

### 4. computing error

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

an error that happens when two pieces of data try to use the same name or space.

For teachers: 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.

- The software crashed because of a naming collision in the database.
- The algorithm was designed to minimise the probability of a hash collision, ensuring that each unique record could be retrieved efficiently.

## Examples

- The car collision blocked the main road for hours.
- The accident was a low-speed collision between a delivery van and a parked bicycle.
- The novel explores the inevitable collision between traditional rural values and the rapid industrialisation of the late nineteenth century.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.