Definition of crash verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

crash

verb

/kræʃ/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they crash	/kræʃ/ /kræʃ/
he / she / it crashes	/ˈkræʃɪz/ /ˈkræʃɪz/
past simple crashed	/kræʃt/ /kræʃt/
past participle crashed	/kræʃt/ /kræʃt/
-ing form crashing	/ˈkræʃɪŋ/ /ˈkræʃɪŋ/

Idioms Phrasal Verbs

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of vehicle

[intransitive, transitive] if a vehicle crashes or the driver crashes it, it hits an object or another vehicle, causing damage

I was terrified that the plane would crash.
We're going to crash, aren't we?
crash into something A truck went out of control and crashed into the back of a bus.
crash something I crashed my motorcycle on the way to a training session.
crash something into something He crashed his car into a wall.

Topics Transport by car or lorryb2

Synonyms crashcrashslam ▪ collide ▪ smash ▪ wreckThese are all words that can be used when something, especially a vehicle, hits something else very hard and is damaged or destroyed.crash to hit an object or another vehicle, causing damage; to make a vehicle do this:

I was terrified that the plane would crash.

slam (something) into/against somebody/something to crash into something with a lot of force; to make something do this:

The car skidded and slammed into a tree.

collide (rather formal) (of two vehicles or people) to crash into each other; (of a vehicle or person) to crash into somebody/something else:

The car and the van collided head-on in thick fog.

smash (rather informal) to crash into something with a lot of force; to make something do this; to crash a car:

Ram-raiders smashed a stolen car through the shop window.

crash, slam or smash?Crash is used especially to talk about vehicles and can be used without a preposition: We’re going to crash, aren’t we? In this meaning slam and smash always take a preposition: We’re going to slam/smash, aren’t we? They are used for a much wider range of things than just vehicles. wreck to crash a vehicle and damage it so badly that it is not worth repairingPatterns

two vehicles crash/collide
two vehicles crash/slam/smash into each other
to crash/smash/wreck a car

Extra Examples

She crashed the car into a tree.
Look out! We're going to crash!

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hit hard/loud noise

[intransitive, transitive] to hit something hard while moving, causing noise and/or damage; to make something hit somebody/something in this way

crash + adv./prep. A brick crashed through the window.
With a sweep of his hand he sent the glasses crashing to the floor.
The huge tree came crashing down during the storm.
Waves crashed against the shore.
crash + adj. The door crashed open.
crash something + adj. She stormed out of the room and crashed the door shut behind her.

[intransitive] to make a loud noise

Thunder crashed overhead.

Extra Examples

They dance to the loud music of pounding drums and crashing cymbals.
The waves crashed deafeningly.

in finance/business

[intransitive] (of prices, a business, shares, etc.) to lose value or fail suddenly and quickly

Share prices crashed to an all-time low yesterday.
The company crashed with debts of £50 million.
We were badly affected when the stock market crashed in 2008.
Their investments were wiped out when technology stocks crashed.

Topics Moneyb2

computing

[intransitive, transitive] if a computer crashes or you crash a computer, it stops working suddenly

Files can be lost if the system suddenly crashes.
Their website crashed repeatedly on Tuesday.
crash something A surge of traffic crashed their servers.

Topics Computersb2

party

[transitive] crash something (informal) gatecrash (= to go to a party or social event without being invited)

in sport

[intransitive] (+ adv./prep) (especially British English) to lose very badly in a sports game

The team crashed to their worst defeat this season.

sleep

[intransitive] crash (out) (informal) to go to sleep, especially suddenly or in a place where you do not usually sleep

I was so tired I crashed out on the sofa.
I've come to crash on your floor for a couple of nights.
Can I crash at your place tonight?

medical

[intransitive] if somebody crashes, their heart stops beating

Word Originlate Middle English: imitative, perhaps partly suggested by craze and dash.

Idioms

crash and burn

(informal) to go wrong or to fail badly and suddenly
- His career crashed and burned after he threatened a journalist.
- The stock markets are getting ready to crash and burn.
- She continued to crash and burn through personal controversies that included driving drunk.

a crashing bore