collision

[kuh-lizh-uh n] /kəˈlɪʒ ən/
noun
1.
the act of colliding; a coming violently into contact; crash:
the collision of two airplanes.
2.
a clash; conflict:
a collision of purposes.
3.
Physics. the meeting of particles or of bodies in which each exerts a force upon the other, causing the exchange of energy or momentum.
Origin
1400-50; late Middle English < Late Latin collīsiōn- (stem of collīsiō), equivalent to collīs(us) (past participle of collīdere to collide) + -iōn- -ion
Related forms
collisional, adjective
anticollision, adjective
Can be confused
collision, collusion.
Examples from the web for collisions
  • Radiation could only be generated in collisions between bubble walls.
  • These collisions then induce condensations of these clouds into new stars.
  • Typically, players will avoid collisions to a degree of mutual tolerance.
  • Head on collisions are avoided by vessels both turning to starboard.
  • The casque would help protect the skull from such collisions.
  • collisions with ships are an additional major cause of fin whale mortality.
British Dictionary definitions for collisions

collision

/kəˈlɪʒən/
noun
1.
a violent impact of moving objects; crash
2.
the conflict of opposed ideas, wishes, attitudes, etc: a collision of interests
3.
(physics) an event in which two or more bodies or particles come together with a resulting change of direction and, normally, energy
Word Origin
C15: from Late Latin collīsiō from Latin collīdere to collide
Word Origin and History for collisions

collision

n.

early 15c., from Middle French collision (15c.), from Latin collisionem (nominative collisio) "a dashing together," noun of action from collidere (see collide).

Encyclopedia Article for collisions

collision

in physics, the sudden, forceful coming together in direct contact of two bodies, such as, for example, two billiard balls, a golf club and a ball, a hammer and a nail head, two railroad cars when being coupled together, or a falling object and a floor. Apart from the properties of the materials of the two objects, two factors affect the result of impact: the force and the time during which the objects are in contact. It is a matter of common experience that a hard steel ball dropped on a steel plate will rebound to almost the position from which it was dropped, whereas with a ball of putty or lead there is no rebound. The impact between the steel ball and plate is said to be elastic, and that between the putty or lead balls and plate is inelastic, or plastic; between these extremes there are varying degrees of elasticity and corresponding responses to impact. In a perfectly elastic impact (attained only at the atomic level), none of the kinetic energy of the coacting bodies is lost; in a perfectly plastic impact, the loss of kinetic energy is at a maximum.

Learn more about collision with a free trial on Britannica.com