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car crash

car crash

72 1.3
A collision between cars that causes damage or injury
  • noun
  • /kɑr kræʃ/
translation icon : accidente de coche
  • The accident on the highway resulted in a serious car crash that injured several people.

And things like snow and car crashes thwart vlog plans.

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Examples

  • The husband was in a fatal car crash on Wednesday.

  • - She said I was in a car crash.

  • Then they were killed in a car crash when I was ten.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • "My parents were in a car crash; it sounds pretty serious.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • In America, when a person is killed in a car crash, there is always an investigation.

    Blog text (15)
  • Two women had died in a car crash in Kentucky.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Her parents had died in a car crash on the busy road between New Amsterdam and Port Mourant.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • There was a horrible car crash in which Kelsey was tragically lost.

  • Emergency responders arrived at the scene of a car crash involving multiple vehicles on the main road.

  • After the heavy rain, many drivers experienced a car crash due to slippery conditions.

Synonyms

accident
vscar crash
1.0

An unexpected event that causes harm or damage

is a specific type of such events occurring between road vehicles
crash
vscar crash
2.3

A violent collision of vehicles like cars or planes that causes damage

is limited to collisions of road vehicles often causing damage or injury
collision
vscar crash
148 3.8

A crash when two moving vehicles hit each other

is narrower, used for collisions that specifically involve road vehicles
wreck
vscar crash
105 2.7

A serious accident involving vehicles like cars

is narrower, focusing on collisions between road vehicles rather than all vehicles
fender-bender
vscar crash
  • Informal
18 3.2

A small car crash that causes little or no damage

refers to more serious vehicle collisions that often result in injury or major damage
smash
vscar crash
7 3.7

A violent crash that causes a loud noise and damage

applies specifically to impacts between road vehicles rather than any objects
smash-up
vscar crash
  • UK
1 5.8

A serious road crash where vehicles hit each other hard

is specific to collisions involving road vehicles rather than any impact
smashup
vscar crash
  • UK
4.4

A violent crash of vehicles that causes damage

is the same idea but focused on collisions of road vehicles

How Severe

pile-up
3 3.2
car crash
72 1.3
fender-bender
  • Informal
18 3.2

Surface Forms

car crash singular
car crashes plural

Morphology

car + crash

The meaning 'a collision involving one or more cars' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'car' (motor vehicle) with 'crash' (a violent collision). This compound follows a common noun + noun composition pattern found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Car crash comes from the loud, sudden noise when two cars hit each other; the word crash copies the sound of metal and glass breaking. So car crash means cars hitting each other, often causing damage or injury.