collision
UK[kəˈlɪʒn]US[kəˈlɪʒn]
n
An accident in which two or more people or vehicles hit each other while moving.
n
A strong disagreement or conflict between people or groups with opposing aims or ideas.
n
(physics) An instance of one moving object or particle striking against another.
Morpheme Breakdown
col
lide
sion
col
together
lide
to strike
sion
noun suffix
Etymology
The word "collision" originates from the Latin noun collisio, derived from the verb collidere, meaning "to dash or strike together." This verb itself is a compound of the prefix com- ("together") and laedere ("to strike, injure"). The core concept has always involved forceful, often damaging, contact between entities. Over time, the meaning expanded from the purely physical act of striking together to encompass metaphorical clashes, such as conflicts of opinion or interests, while retaining its fundamental sense of a violent meeting.
Analysis
Structure: col (together) + lide (to strike) + sion (noun suffix)
- col-: A prefix from Latin com-, meaning "together" or "with." It assimilates to col- before l.
- lide: A root from the Latin verb laedere, meaning "to strike, dash, or hurt." In the modern spelling, the ae has been simplified to i.
- sion: A noun-forming suffix from Latin -sio, -tionem, indicating an action or process.
Examples
The collision between the two cars blocked traffic for hours.
There was a collision of ideologies at the political debate.
Scientists study the collision of subatomic particles to understand fundamental forces.