Words / B1

k-uh-LYD/kəˈlaɪd/

To collide is to crash into something: two vans collided; collide with. Collision is already in the dictionary. Crash is everyday. Ideas and groups can collide (conflict). Do not write “collide to the wall” — use collide with. Head-on collision is a news collocation.

Meaning

To crash into something; also, of ideas or groups, to conflict.

Examples

• “Two vans collided at the junction in the fog.”
• “Two vans collided at the junction in thick fog.”
• “Their accounts of the meeting collided, which is the “conflict” sense.”

Good to know

collide with (not to). Noun: collision. Everyday: crash. Also: ideas collide. News: head-on collision.

Near in meaning

crash

New