crash
1 of 4verb
ˈkrash 
crashed; crashing; crashes
transitive verb
1
a
: to break violently and noisily : smash
b
: to damage (an airplane) in landing
2
a
: to cause to make a loud noise
crash the cymbals together
b
: to force (one's way) through with loud crashing noises
3
: to enter or attend without invitation or without paying
crash the party
4
: to move toward aggressively (as in fighting for a rebound)
basketball players crashing the boards
5
: to cause (a computer system, component, or program) to crash
intransitive verb
1
a
: to break or go to pieces with or as if with violence and noise
b
: to fall, land, or hit with destructive force
c
: to decline suddenly and steeply
d
of a computer system, component, or program : to suffer a sudden major failure usually with attendant loss of data
2
: to make a smashing noise
thunder crashing overhead
3
: to move or force one's way with or as if with a crash
crashes into the room
4
slang : to experience the aftereffects (such as fatigue, irritability, headache, or depression) of a physiologically or psychologically active substance
Prolonged use of cocaine—repeatedly cycles of euphoria, crashing, and craving—probably brings about changes in the postsynaptic neurons …
Robert Wilbur
Robert WilburCrashing from a sugar high never helped anyone remain awake all night. Justin Rocket Silverman
Justin Rocket Silverman5
informal
a
: to go to bed or fall asleep
also : to reside temporarily : stay
crashing with friends for a few days
b
: to lose energy : to become very fatigued
It happens every afternoon like clockwork … I'm crashing, my body says. I need salt. Sugar. Fat. Now. James Oseland
James Oseland crasher noun
crash
2 of 4noun (1)
1
: a loud sound (as of things smashing)
a crash of thunder
2
a
: a breaking to pieces by or as if by collision
b
: an instance of crashing
a plane crash
a system crash
3
: a sudden decline (as of a population) or failure (as of a business)
a stock market crash
4
informal : the sudden, powerful occurrence of adverse aftereffects (such as fatigue, irritability, headache, or depression) following the use of a physiologically or psychologically active substance
… the jitters, euphoria and eventual crash that come after caffeine or amphetamines. Graham Lawton
Graham LawtonWhen it comes to snacks, bars can have a nutritional edge over candy. Many are lower in fat and sugars. And some bars might be less likely to cause sugar rushes followed by crashes. Consumer Reports
Consumer Reportscrash
3 of 4adjective
: marked by a concerted effort and effected in the shortest possible time especially to meet emergency conditions
a crash renovation program
crash
4 of 4noun (2)
: a coarse fabric used for draperies, toweling, and clothing and for strengthening joints of cased-in books
Synonyms
Verb
- break down
- shatter
- smash
Noun (1)
- collision
- concussion
- crack-up
- smash
- smashup
- wreck
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb She crashed the car into a tree, but no one was hurt. He has crashed two cars, a truck, and a motorcycle. We listened to the waves crashing against the shore. The stuntman crashed through the window on a motorcycle. The walls crashed down around them. The books crashed to the floor. The cymbals crashed and the trumpets blew. Thunder crashed as the rain started to pour. He crashed the cymbals together. See More
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English crasschen
Noun (2)
probably from Russian krashenina colored linen
First Known Use
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun (1)
1574, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
1945, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
1812, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing crash
Kids Definition
crash 1 of 2
verb
ˈkrash
crashed; crashing
1
: to break or go to pieces with or as if with violence and noise : smash
2
: to fall or strike something with noise and damage
A plane crashed in the storm.
The lamp crashed to the floor.
3
: to hit or cause to hit something with force and noise
The car crashed into a tree.
4
: to make or cause to make a loud noise
Thunder crashed overhead.
5
: to move roughly and noisily
I heard something crashing through the woods.
6
: to stay for a short time where someone else lives
crash
2 of 2noun
1
: a loud sound (as of things smashing)
2
: an instance of hitting something with force
Two floor-quaking crashes came from the dining room … Jerry Spinelli, Maniac Magee
Jerry Spinelli, Maniac Magee3
: a collision involving a vehicle
a plane crash
4
: a sudden weakening or failure (as of a business or prices)
crasher
noun
as in hanger-on
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- hanger-on
- invitee
- houseguest
- guest
- visitor
- caller
- company
- frequenter
- visitant
- drop-in
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- resident
- occupant
- dweller
- inhabitant
- denizen
- hostess
- host
- habitant
- resider
- cohost
- cohostess