Butting

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈbʌtɪŋ/

Definitions

1. The act of striking against an object with force can depict a physical confrontation A forceful impact may signify an aggressive interaction between two entities The action involves making contact with something to create space or push back against it
2. The act of pushing or striking with the head or horns on an object or another person ; the action of two or more entities colliding or clashing in opposition
3. Using the head to press or ram against something as a form of attack or resistance ; the event of meeting and forcefully encountering another person or thing in opposition

Etymology: "Butting" is the present participle of "butt", a verb meaning to strike or push with the head or horns. The verb is a descendant of Old French "boter", meaning to thrust or push, and it has been used in English since the Middle Ages. The Old French word is itself of Germanic origin, which is why English kept a robust, almost onomatopoeic sound for it. The "-ing" ending is the ordinary suffix that turns a verb into a participle, so "butting" simply describes the action in progress: a goat butting a fence, or a man butting in on a conversation. The sense of interrupting or intruding came from the same image of pushing forward into someone else's space.

Synonyms: colliding, bumping, jostling, ramming, pushing

Antonyms: avoiding, dodging, steering clear, eluding, escaping