Crash
/kræʃ/
Definitions
5 meaningsTo collide with something forcefully, often resulting in damage or destruction.
/kræʃ/
To collide violently with something.
The plane crashed in the mountains.
💡 Simply: Like when a car bumps into something really hard, or when your favorite video game suddenly stops working. It's a loud, unexpected event!
👶 For kids: When things bump into each other and make a loud noise, like cars or airplanes!
More Examples
The stock market crashed during the financial crisis.
My computer crashed, and I lost all my work.
How It's Used
"The car crashed into a tree."
"The computer crashed due to a software error."
To fall or descend suddenly and often with a loud noise.
/kræʃ/
To fall suddenly and heavily.
The skater crashed onto the ice.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're so tired you just fall right into bed, or when a bird plummets to the ground. It's a quick, heavy drop.
👶 For kids: When you fall down hard, like when you're running and trip!
More Examples
The athlete crashed out of the race due to injury.
After a long day of traveling, I crashed on the bed.
How It's Used
"He crashed to the ground after tripping."
"She crashed on the couch after a long day."
A sudden and forceful collision or failure.
/kræʃ/
A sudden and violent event.
The plane crash killed all on board.
💡 Simply: When two things smash together, like a car accident or when your computer suddenly stops working. It’s unexpected and often causes damage or a problem.
👶 For kids: When things bump into each other super hard, like when cars bump into each other on the road!
More Examples
The market experienced a sudden stock market crash.
The software experienced a crash and had to be restarted.
How It's Used
"There was a car crash on the highway."
"The computer suffered a system crash."
A sudden and loud noise caused by something breaking or colliding.
/kræʃ/
The sound of a crash.
The crash of thunder startled the dog.
💡 Simply: The loud 'boom!' or 'bang!' sound you hear when something breaks or falls.
👶 For kids: The loud 'BOOM!' sound something makes when it breaks!
More Examples
I heard a loud crash in the kitchen.
The car made a terrible crash when it hit the wall.
How It's Used
"The loud crash of thunder woke me up."
To go to sleep, usually in a place that is not your usual bed.
/kræʃ/
To go to sleep
I was so tired, I crashed on the couch.
💡 Simply: To fall asleep really quickly, like when you're super tired and just drop off to sleep.
👶 For kids: To go to sleep at someone else's house.
More Examples
After the party, we crashed at a friend's place.
She crashed as soon as her head hit the pillow.
How It's Used
"I crashed at my friend's house last night."
Idioms & expressions
crash course
A rapid, intensive course of instruction or training.
"The company offered a crash course in marketing to the new hires."
crash and burn
To fail completely and dramatically.
"The new business idea crashed and burned after only a few months."
crash diet
A diet that aims to produce rapid weight loss.
"A crash diet may help you lose weight quickly, but can be harmful to your health."
crash out
To go to sleep, especially quickly or in an informal setting.
"I was so tired, I just crashed out on the sofa."
From Middle English crashen, probably of imitative origin (onomatopoeic), referring to the sound of something breaking or colliding. The meaning expanded to include sudden failures and accidents.
The word 'crash' to describe a collision or sudden event is relatively modern, appearing prominently in the 19th and 20th centuries. The sense of sleeping is more recent.
Memory tip
Imagine a car CRASHING into a wall – loud, sudden, and destructive.
Word Origin
"Imitative (onomatopoeic) - relating to a sudden breaking sound."