Words / B2

k-uh-LIZHN/kəˈlɪʒn/

A collision is when two vehicles or objects hit: a collision on the motorway, a head-on collision. Crash is everyday; smash is more violent. Collision is also used for a serious clash of ideas (a collision of values). Collide is the verb. In speech, a crash is enough. Do not use collision for a mild disagreement — that is a clash or a disagreement — and keep the road sense and the ideas sense apart.

Meaning

An accident in which two vehicles or objects hit each other; also a serious clash of ideas.

Examples

• “The collision on the motorway delayed traffic for hours.”
• “Fog caused a collision involving three lorries on the ring road.”
• “The new timetable was a collision between exam dates and the sports day, which is the clash-of-plans sense.”

Good to know

A crash (vehicles/objects). Everyday: crash. Verb: collide. Also: a serious clash of ideas. Not a mild row.

Near in meaning

crash

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