collider
UK[kəˈlaɪdə(r)]US[kəˈlaɪdər]
n
a machine in which two beams of particles are made to collide
n
a person or thing that collides
Morpheme Breakdown
collide
er
collide
er
Etymology
the word 'collider' is a modern english formation, built upon the verb 'collide'. the verb itself entered english in the early 17th century from latin collidere, composed of com- (meaning 'together') and laedere (meaning 'to strike'). the agent suffix -er, of germanic origin, is productively attached to verbs to denote an instrument or machine that performs the action. thus, a 'collider' is literally 'a thing that causes (particles) to strike together'. this logical construction perfectly describes its primary modern function in particle physics, where devices like the large hadron collider are designed to make particle beams intersect at high speeds.
Analysis
Structure: collide + er
collide (from latin collidere, 'to strike or dash together'), er (agent noun suffix from old english -ere, indicating a person or thing that performs an action)
Examples
scientists at cern use the large hadron collider to study fundamental particles.
the new particle collider is the most powerful ever built.
in the fog, the ship was a dangerous collider.