ENGLISH
REFERENCE

smash

v. · n.
US //ˈsmæʃ// UK //smˈæʃ// smash
  1. 1 to break violently (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to break something into many small pieces by hitting it or dropping it.

    to break something brittle into fragments using sudden, violent force. Often used transitively with a direct object.

    Example

    The window smashed into a thousand pieces when the ball hit it.

    Example

    The protesters began to smash the shop windows, leaving the pavement covered in dangerous shards of glass before the police arrived.
  2. 2 to hit hard (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to hit something with a lot of power.

    to strike something with heavy force, often resulting in damage or a loud noise.

    Example

    He had to smash the door open to get into the burning house.

    Example

    The waves continued to smash against the pier, eventually weakening the wooden supports until the entire structure collapsed into the sea.
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  1. 3 to defeat or destroy (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to completely defeat an opponent or destroy a record.

    to defeat an opponent overwhelmingly or to surpass a previous record by a significant margin.

    Example

    The young runner managed to smash the world record by two seconds.

    Example

    The army managed to smash the enemy's final line of defence, ending the conflict much sooner than the generals had predicted.
  2. 4 a loud crash (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the loud sound of something breaking or hitting something else.

    the sound or act of a violent impact or collision.

    Example

    I heard a loud smash coming from the kitchen and found a broken plate.

    Example

    The sudden smash of the car hitting the wall echoed through the quiet neighbourhood, bringing residents out of their homes to investigate.
  3. 5 a big success (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    something that is very popular, like a famous song or movie.

    a person or thing that is a great success, particularly in the entertainment industry. Often used in the compound 'smash hit'.

    Example

    Her new album was a total smash and stayed at number one for weeks.

    Example

    The musical proved to be a surprise smash, selling out every performance during its initial three-month run on Broadway.
  4. 6 overhead shot (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Sport

    a very hard, downward hit in sports like tennis.

    a powerful, overhead stroke hit sharply downward into the opponent's court.

    Example

    She won the final point with a powerful smash that her opponent couldn't reach.

    Example

    The player's signature smash was nearly impossible to return, often bouncing high into the stands before the defender could react.
  5. 7 airspeed (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Informal Aviation

    the speed of an aircraft through the air.

    a term used to refer to airspeed or dynamic pressure.

    Example

    The pilot checked the instruments to see if they had enough smash for the climb.

    Example

    The instructor warned the student that losing too much smash during the turn could lead to an aerodynamic stall at a low altitude.

    Usage

    Usually uncountable in this technical sense.
Origin

Uncertain, probably of onomatopoeic origin. Compare Swedish smask (“to smack with the lips”), dialectal Swedish smaska (“to smack, kiss”), Danish smaske (“to smack with the lips”), Low German smaksen (“to smack with the lips, kiss”).

Word family
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