noun

collision

kuh-LIZH-uhn/kəˈlɪʒn/

An impact caused by two things occupying the same space.

The collision splinters the front boards of both wooden carts.

Two unoccupied wheeled wooden carts collide head-on, their front boards splintering at the point of impact and their rear wheels lifting slightly from the force.

Etymology

colLatintogether

+lisLatinto strike, injure

+ionLatinact or action

The pieces describe an act of striking together. That physical image remains central to a collision: moving objects meet with force rather than merely coming into contact.

In context

Plainly Difficult703:32

This essentially put the tank between the solid front end of another car and the solid axle of the pinto in the case of a rear end collision.

Rewind Year 7 of Plainly Difficult | Youtube Omnibus

More examples

She brakes hard to avoid a collision with the truck.
The helmet protects his head during a collision.
Gas particles exchange energy through collisions.

Forms

collision · collisions

collide verb — To strike forcefully against another object.

Similar words

crash: Suggests a violent impact, often with damage or noise.
impact: Emphasizes the moment or force of contact between things.