crash
crash (kras̸h)
intransitive verb
- to fall, collide, or break with force and with a loud, smashing noise
- to make a sudden, loud noise, as of something falling and shattering
- to move or go with such a noise
- to fall or land violently out of control so as to be damaged or smashed: said of aircraft
- to come to sudden ruin; collapse; fail their business crashed
- ☆ Slang
- to sleep
- to get a place to sleep temporarily
- ☆ Slang to come down swiftly from the euphoria induced by a drug
- ☆ Comput. to become inoperable because of a malfunction in the equipment or an error in the program
Etymology: ME crashen, prob. echoic var. of cracken (see crack); akin to Dan krase, to crackle, Ger krach, crash, disaster < krachen, to crack
transitive verb
- to break or dash into pieces; smash; shatter
- to cause (a car, airplane, etc.) to crash
- to cause to make a crashing sound
- to force or impel with or as with a crashing noise: with in, out, through, etc.
- ☆ Informal to get into (a party, theater, etc.) without an invitation, ticket, etc.
noun
- a loud, sudden noise, as of something falling and shattering
- a breaking or smashing into pieces
- a crashing, as of a car or an airplane
- a sudden fall, collapse, or ruin, esp. of business or a business enterprise
adjective
crash (kras̸h)
noun
Etymology: earlier crasko, crasho, “Russian linen,” prob. a contr. < Russ krashenina, colored linen < krasit', to color < krasa, beauty
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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