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car crash


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Also see: car

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
crash1 /kræʃ/USA pronunciation   v. 
  1. to make a loud, clattering noise: [no object]The windows crashed from the explosion.[~ + object]The explosion crashed the windows.
  2. to (cause to) break or fall to pieces with noise: [no object]The glass crashed to the floor.[~ + object]He crashed his glass to the floor angrily.
  3. (of moving objects) to collide violently and noisily: [no object]The two cars left the road and crashed.[~ + into + object]The cars crashed into a wall.
  4. to cause (a moving vehicle) to collide with another object violently: [~ + object]He crashed his car on the highway.[~ + object + into/through + object]He crashed his car into the wall.
  5. to move, force, or drive with violence and noise: [~ + into/through + object]The truck crashed through the gate.[~ + object + into/through + object]The driver crashed the truck into the gate.
  6. Aeronautics (of an aircraft) to land in such a way that damage or destruction cannot be avoided:[no object]The pilot tried to land but the plane crashed.
  7. Aeronautics to cause (an aircraft) to suffer severe damage or destruction in landing:[~ + object]The pilot crashed the plane into the mountain.
  8. to collapse or fail suddenly, such as a financial enterprise:[no object]The stock market crashed.
  9. Slang Terms[no object] Slang.
    • to sleep:I've got to crash; can I use that bed?
    • to fall asleep:I'm crashing; see you tomorrow.
    • to stay temporarily without payment: I crashed with my brother for a week.
  10. Slang Terms, Drugs[no object] Slang. to experience unpleasant sensations when a stimulant drug wears off.
  11. Computing (of a computer) to shut down because of something wrong with the hardware or software:[no object]The computer crashed and I lost all my data.
  12. Informal Terms to enter or force one's way into (an event) without an invitation:[~ + object]tried to crash the party.

n. [countable]
  1. an act or instance of crashing:several bad early-morning crashes on the interstate highway.
    • the emergency landing of an aircraft, etc., usually causing severe damage.
  3. a sudden general collapse of a business, the stock market, etc.:the famous stock market crash of 1929.

adj. [before a noun]
  1. involving a strong, intensive effort, esp. to deal with an emergency, meet a deadline, etc.:went on a crash diet.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
crash1  (krash),USA pronunciation v.i. 
  1. to make a loud, clattering noise, as of something dashed to pieces.
  2. to break or fall to pieces with noise.
  3. (of moving vehicles, objects, etc.) to collide, esp. violently and noisily.
  4. to move or go with a crash;
    strike with a crash.
  5. Aeronauticsto land in an abnormal manner, usually causing severe damage:The airliner crashed.
  6. to collapse or fail suddenly, as a financial enterprise:The stock market crashed.
  7. Informal Termsto gain admittance to a party, performance, etc., without an invitation, ticket, or permission.
  8. Slang Terms
    • to sleep.
    • to have a temporary place to sleep or live without payment:He let me crash at his house.
    • to fall asleep:I get home in the evening and I just crash till it's time for dinner.
  9. Slang Terms, Drugsto experience unpleasant sensations, as sudden exhaustion or depression, when a drug, esp. an amphetamine, wears off.
  10. [Med. Slang.]to suffer cardiac arrest.
  11. Biology, Ecology[Ecol.](of a population) to decline rapidly.
  12. Computingto shut down because of a malfunction of hardware or software.

v.t. 
  1. to break into pieces violently and noisily;
    shatter.
  2. to force or drive with violence and noise (usually fol. by in, through, out, etc.).
  3. Aeronauticsto cause (an aircraft) to make a landing in an abnormal manner, usually damaging or wrecking the aircraft.
  4. Informal Terms
    • to gain admittance to, even though uninvited:to crash a party.
    • to enter without a ticket, permission, etc.:to crash the gate at a football game.

n. 
  1. a sudden loud noise, as of something being violently smashed or struck:the crash of thunder.
  2. a breaking or falling to pieces with loud noise:the sudden crash of dishes.
  3. a collision or crashing, as of automobiles, trains, etc.
  4. the shock of collision and breaking.
  5. a sudden and violent falling to ruin.
  6. a sudden general collapse of a business enterprise, prosperity, the stock market, etc.:the crash of 1929.
  7. Aeronauticsan act or instance of crashing.
  8. Biology, Ecology[Ecol.]a sudden, rapid decline in the size of a population.

adj. 
  1. characterized by an intensive effort, esp. to deal with an emergency, meet a deadline, etc.:a crash plan to house flood victims; a crash diet.
  • 1350–1400; 1920–25 def. 16; 1870–75 for def. 22; Middle English crasche, blend of, blended crase to break (see craze) and masche mash
crash′er, n. 
    • 13.See corresponding entry in Unabridged smash.
    • 21.See corresponding entry in Unabridged failure, ruin.
crash2  (krash),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. Textilesa plain-weave fabric of rough, irregular, or lumpy yarns, for toweling, dresses, etc.
  2. Printing[Bookbinding.]starched cotton fabric used to reinforce the spine of a bound book.
  • Russian krashenína painted or dyed coarse linen, equivalent. to kráshen(yĭ) painted (past participle of krásit' to paint) + -ina noun, nominal suffix
  • probably 1805–15

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
crash / kræʃ/
  1. to make or cause to make a loud noise as of solid objects smashing or clattering
  2. to fall or cause to fall with force, breaking in pieces with a loud noise as of solid objects smashing
  3. (intransitive) to break or smash in pieces with a loud noise
  4. (intransitive) to collapse or fail suddenly: this business is sure to crash
  5. to cause (an aircraft) to hit land or water violently resulting in severe damage or (of an aircraft) to hit land or water in this way
  6. to cause (a car, etc) to collide with another car or other object or (of two or more cars) to be involved in a collision
  7. to move or cause to move violently or noisily: to crash through a barrier

  8. short for gate-crash
  9. (intransitive) (of a computer system or program) to fail suddenly and completely because of a malfunction
  10. crash and burn ⇒ to fail; be unsuccessful
  1. an act or instance of breaking and falling to pieces
  2. a sudden loud noise: the crash of thunder
  3. a collision, as between vehicles
  4. a sudden descent of an aircraft as a result of which it hits land or water
  5. the sudden collapse of a business, stock exchange, etc, esp one causing further financial failure
  6. (modifier) requiring or using intensive effort and all possible resources in order to accomplish something quickly: a crash programme
  7. sudden or vigorous: a crash halt, a crash tackle
Etymology: 14th Century: probably from crasen to smash, shatter + dasshen to strike violently, dash1; see crazeˈcrasher
crash / kræʃ/
  1. a coarse cotton or linen cloth used for towelling, curtains, etc
Etymology: 19th Century: from Russian krashenina coloured linen
'car crash' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Dean - Diana - al Fayed

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