crash

Everyday

1. A crash is an accident when a vehicle hits something hard. tree →
2. A crash is a sudden loud noise of something falling or breaking. tree →
3. To crash is to hit something hard, or to fall with a loud noise. tree →
4. When a computer crashes, it suddenly stops working. tree →
5. To crash can mean to fall asleep very quickly because you are tired (informal). tree →

In the lessons

In road safety, seatbelts, car seats and bike helmets protect you in a crash. In science, a crash shows forces and energy: the faster something moves, the harder it hits. In stories, a crash is a sudden dramatic event. Phrases: car crash, crash into, crash helmet, crash landing, crash course (a fast short lesson), the waves crashed.

Examples

• The car crashed into a tree. tree →
• We heard a crash from the kitchen. tree →
• The waves crashed against the rocks. tree →
• My computer crashed and I lost my work. tree →
• Wear a helmet in case you crash your bike. tree →
• The plane made a crash landing. tree →
• After the trip I crashed on the sofa. tree →

Note

Plural crashes, with -es. "Crash into" is used for hitting something. Do not confuse "crash" (hit hard) with "crush" (squeeze flat). In physics problems, speed and mass both make a crash more powerful.