Colliding

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The process by which multiple objects impact each other forcefully involves a confrontation that creates a disturbance or conflict with significant results
2. An event where several entities meet with forceful contact leads to opposing forces clashing, resulting in noticeable upheaval or discord
3. The act of two or more things striking each other violently, resulting in a sudden impact

Etymology: "Colliding" is the present participle of "collide," so its history is that of the verb. The verb comes from Latin "collīdere," meaning to clash, strike, or press together, built from "com-" (together) and "laedere" (to strike or hurt). The Latin prefix took the form "col-" before the "l" sound, a common adjustment that also appears in words like "collect" and "collapse." The most striking part of the story is the second element. "Laedere" is the same root behind "lesion" and "lesive," so the Latin verb carried a sense of injury as well as impact. Two bodies pressed together with force could damage each other, and English inherited that physical violence into a verb that now describes simple contact between moving objects.

Synonyms: crashing, bumping, smashing, hitting, striking

Antonyms: avoiding, dodging, evading, steering clear, parting