clash

UK: /ˈklæʃ/ US: /klæʃ/ ,(klash)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

clash /klæʃ/   v. 

1. to strike with a loud, harsh noise: [no object]
   The cymbals clashed.
   [~ + object]
   The tower bell clashed its mournful note.
2. to conflict;
   disagree: [no object; (~ + on + object)]
   The two opponents frequently clashed on this issue.
   [~ + with + object]
   Your ideas often clash with mine.
3. to engage in a physical conflict or contest: [no object; (~ + on + object)]
   The police and the rioters clashed on the streets.
   [~ + with + object]
   The police clashed with the demonstrators.
4. (of colors or patterns) to be incompatible:
   [no object] The red and purple really clash.

n. [countable]

5. a loud, harsh noise, as of a collision:
   The clash of cymbals woke him up during the concert.
6. a conflict, esp. of views or interests:
   another clash between liberals and conservatives.
7. a battle, fight, or skirmish:
   a bloody clash on the streets.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

clash  (klash), v.i. 

1. to make a loud, harsh noise:
   The gears of the old car clashed and grated.
2. to come together or collide, esp. noisily:
   The cymbals clashed.
3. to conflict;
   disagree:
   Their stories of the accident clashed completely.
4. (of juxtaposed colors) to be offensive to the eye.
5. to engage in a physical conflict or contest, as in a game or a battle (often fol. by with):
   The Yankees clash with the White Sox for the final game of the season.

v.t. 

6. to strike with a resounding or violent collision:
   He clashed his fist against the heavy door.
7. to produce (sound) by or as by collision:
   The tower bell clashed its mournful note.

n. 

8. a loud, harsh noise, as of a collision:
   The automobiles collided with a terrible clash.
9. a collision, esp. a noisy one.
10. a conflict;
    opposition, esp. of views or interests:
    a clash between nations.
11. a battle, fight, or skirmish:
    The clash between the border patrols left three men dead.

• blend of, blended clap¹ and dash¹ 1490–1500

clash′er, n. 
clash′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. clang, crash.
• 10. disagreement, altercation, dispute. See struggle. 

Antonyms

• 10. agreement, cooperation.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

clash / klæʃ/ verb

1. to make or cause to make a loud harsh sound, esp by striking together
2. (intransitive) to be incompatible; conflict
3. (intransitive) to engage together in conflict or contest
4. (intransitive) (of dates or events) to coincide
5. (intransitive) (of colours) to look ugly or inharmonious together

noun

1. a loud harsh noise
2. a collision or conflict

Etymology: 16th Century: of imitative origin

ˈclasher noun