crash
1 Americanverb (used without object)
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to make a loud, clattering noise, as of something dashed to pieces.
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to break or fall to pieces with noise.
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(of moving vehicles, objects, etc.) to collide, especially violently and noisily.
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to move or go with a crash; strike with a crash.
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Aeronautics. to land in an abnormal manner, usually causing severe damage.
The airliner crashed.
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to collapse or fail suddenly, as a financial enterprise.
The stock market crashed.
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Informal. to gain admittance to a party, performance, etc., without an invitation, ticket, or permission.
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Slang.
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to sleep.
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to have a temporary place to sleep or live without payment.
He let me crash at his house.
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to fall asleep.
I get home in the evening and I just crash till it's time for dinner.
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Slang. to experience unpleasant sensations, as sudden exhaustion or depression, when a drug, especially an amphetamine, wears off.
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Medicine/Medical Slang. to suffer cardiac arrest.
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Ecology. (of a population) to decline rapidly.
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Computers. to shut down because of a malfunction of hardware or software.
verb (used with object)
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to break into pieces violently and noisily; shatter.
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to force or drive with violence and noise (usually followed by in, through, out, etc.).
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Aeronautics. to cause (an aircraft) to make a landing in an abnormal manner, usually damaging or wrecking the aircraft.
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Informal.
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to gain admittance to, even though uninvited.
to crash a party.
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to enter without a ticket, permission, etc..
to crash the gate at a football game.
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noun
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a sudden loud noise, as of something being violently smashed or struck.
the crash of thunder.
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a breaking or falling to pieces with loud noise.
the sudden crash of dishes.
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a collision or crashing, as of automobiles, trains, etc.
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the shock of collision and breaking.
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a sudden and violent falling to ruin.
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a sudden general collapse of a business enterprise, prosperity, the stock market, etc..
the crash of 1929.
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Aeronautics. an act or instance of crashing.
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Ecology. a sudden, rapid decline in the size of a population.
adjective
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characterized by an intensive effort, especially to deal with an emergency, meet a deadline, etc..
a crash plan to house flood victims; a crash diet.
noun
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a plain-weave fabric of rough, irregular, or lumpy yarns, for toweling, dresses, etc.
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Bookbinding. starched cotton fabric used to reinforce the spine of a bound book.
verb
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to make or cause to make a loud noise as of solid objects smashing or clattering
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to fall or cause to fall with force, breaking in pieces with a loud noise as of solid objects smashing
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(intr) to break or smash in pieces with a loud noise
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(intr) to collapse or fail suddenly
this business is sure to crash
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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
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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
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to move or cause to move violently or noisily
to crash through a barrier
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informal short for gate-crash
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(intr) (of a computer system or program) to fail suddenly and completely because of a malfunction
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slang (intr) another term for crash out
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informal to fail; be unsuccessful
noun
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an act or instance of breaking and falling to pieces
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a sudden loud noise
the crash of thunder
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a collision, as between vehicles
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a sudden descent of an aircraft as a result of which it hits land or water
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the sudden collapse of a business, stock exchange, etc, esp one causing further financial failure
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(modifier)
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requiring or using intensive effort and all possible resources in order to accomplish something quickly
a crash programme
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sudden or vigorous
a crash halt
a crash tackle
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informal a complete failure
noun
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a coarse cotton or linen cloth used for towelling, curtains, etc
Other Word Forms
- crasher noun
Etymology
Origin of crash1
First recorded in 1350–1400; 1920–25 crash 1 for def. 16; 1870–75 crash 1 for def. 22; Middle English crasche, blend of crase “to break” and masche “to crush, pulp”; craze, mash 1
Origin of crash2
First recorded in 1805–15; probably from Russian krashenína “painted or dyed coarse linen,” equivalent to kráshenyĭ “painted” (past participle of krásit' “to paint”) + -ina noun suffix
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He recently took out an ad in the Wall Street Journal, saying he struggled with a frontal-lobe injury from a car crash and a bipolar type-1 diagnosis.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026
Air India Chief Executive Campbell Wilson is stepping down, the latest setback for India’s flag carrier as it grapples with continuing losses following a deadly crash last year.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026
The crash took place at 12:55 p.m. on May 19, 2025, when Cervantes’ car was hit by a driver who failed to yield to the right of way at an intersection in downtown Sacramento.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026
“Some of the larger risks are much like tectonic plates, always moving and periodically causing earthquakes and volcanoes when they crash into each other,” he said.
From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026
The sudden buzz of wings made Brigit stumble backward and crash into Ella.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
