collision
an accident that happens when two vehicles hit each other with force
Two drivers were killed in a head-on (= direct) collision between a car and a taxi last night.
Oxford Essential Dictionary
collision
noun
when things or people collide same meaning crash:
The driver of the car was killed in the collision.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
collision
col‧li‧sion /kəˈlɪʒən/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable and countable]
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: collisio, from collidere; ⇨ ↑collide]
1. an accident in which two or more people or vehicles hit each other while moving in different directions ⇨ collide
collision with
The school bus was involved in a collision with a truck.
Two people were killed in a head-on collision (=between two vehicles that are moving directly towards each other) on highway 218.
2. a strong disagreement between two people or groups
collision between
a collision between the two countries over fishing rights
3. be on a collision course
a) to be likely to have serious trouble because your aims are very different from someone else’s:
The two nations are on a collision course that could lead to war.
b) to be moving in a direction in which you will hit something:
an asteroid on a collision course with Earth
THESAURUS
▪ accident an event in which a vehicle is damaged and often someone is hurt: Her father died in a car accident. | Hugh had an accident on his way to work.
▪ crash a serious accident in which a vehicle hits something else: Rees-Jones was the only person to survive the crash. | a car/plane/train crash | He was killed in a plane crash.
▪ collision an accident in which two or more cars, trains etc hit each other: His car was involved in a collision with a train. | a head-on collision (=between vehicles that are driving towards each other): The actor was killed in a head-on collision while driving his new sports car.
▪ disaster a serious accident involving a train, plane, or boat, in which a lot of people are killed or injured: It was Britain’s worst air disaster.
▪ wreck American English an accident in which a car or train is badly damaged: Ben nearly died in a car wreck.
▪ pile-up an accident that involves several cars or trucks: The pile-up happened in thick fog. | There was a 12-car pile-up on the motorway.
▪ fender-bender American English informal, prang British English informal a car accident in which little damage is done: Atkinson was involved in a fender-bender in the hotel parking lot. | At 15, he borrowed his parents’ car and had a prang.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
collision
col·li·sion [collision collisions] [kəˈlɪʒn] [kəˈlɪʒn] noun countable, uncountable ~ (with sb/sth) | ~ (between/of A and B)
1. an accident in which two vehicles or people crash into each other
• a collision between two trains
• Stewart was injured in a collision with another player.
• a head-on collision (= between two vehicles that are moving towards each other)
• a mid-air collision (= between two aircraft while they are flying)
• His car was in collision with a motorbike.
• Wind and ice were blamed for the collision involving up to 12 vehicles.
2. (formal) a strong disagreement between two people or between opposing ideas, opinions, etc; the meeting of two things that are very different
• a collision between two opposing points of view
• In his work we see the collision of two different traditions.
Idiom: on a collision course
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from late Latin collisio(n-), from Latin collidere ‘strike together’, from col- ‘together’ + laedere ‘to strike’.
Example Bank:
• I had a collision with a bus.
• She was injured in a collision.
• The car was in collision with a lorry.
• The collision occurred near the hospital.
• a head-on collision between two cars
• Australian food is an exciting collision of native, Asian and European cuisines.
• The problem comes from a collision between two opposing points of view.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
collision / kəˈlɪʒ. ə n / noun [ C or U ] (ACCIDENT)
an accident that happens when two vehicles hit each other with force:
There has been a collision on the southbound stretch of the motorway.
Two drivers were killed in a head-on (= direct) collision between a car and a taxi last night.
The cyclist was in collision with a bus.
collision / kəˈlɪʒ. ə n / noun [ C ] (DIFFERENCE)
a strong disagreement:
There was a collision of interests/opinions.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
collision
[kəlɪ̱ʒ(ə)n]
collisions
1) N-VAR: oft N with/between n A collision occurs when a moving object crashes into something.
They were on their way to the Shropshire Union Canal when their van was involved in a collision with a car...
I saw a head-on collision between two aeroplanes.
Syn:
crash
2) N-COUNT: oft N of/between/with n A collision of cultures or ideas occurs when two very different cultures or people meet and conflict.
It's the collision of disparate ideas that alters one's perspective...
The play represents the collision of three generations.
Syn:
clash
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
collision
col·li·sion /kəˈlɪʒən/ noun, pl -sions [count] : an act of colliding: such as
a : a crash in which two or more things or people hit each other
• The car was destroyed in the collision.
• There was nothing I could do to avoid a head-on collision. [=a crash of two vehicles that are moving directly toward each other]
- often + between or with
• He was injured in a collision between a car and an SUV.
• She hurt her shoulder in a collision with another player.
b : a situation in which people or groups disagree : a clash or conflict - often + between
• He reported on the latest collision between the two leaders.
