crash

crashverb

To crash is to hit something suddenly, hard, and with a loud noise, or to stop working or lose value suddenly.

1. vehiclehit something in a vehicle, or have an accident in which a vehicle hits something

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj] verb + object [V + obj] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep]

   • The car crashed into a tree. V + prep + obj
   • Two buses crashed on the highway this morning. V + adv/prep
   • He crashed his father's car the day after he passed his driving test. V + obj
   • The plane crashed shortly after it took off.

   Collocations

   verb + preposition crash into something

   noun + verb a car crashes, a plane crashes

   Compare crush (Crush means press something until it breaks.); hit

2. hit noisilyhit something or fall with a loud noise

   intransitive [I] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep]

   • The waves crashed against the rocks. V + adv/prep
   • A plate slipped out of my hand and crashed to the floor. V + adv/prep
   • The door crashed open and the children ran in.

   Collocations

   verb + preposition crash against something, crash to the ground, crash down

3. computersuddenly stop working, or make a computer or a program suddenly stop working

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + object [V + obj] computing

   • My laptop crashed and I lost an hour of work.
   • The website crashed when too many people tried to buy tickets.
   • Opening that file crashes the program every time. V + obj

   Collocations

   noun + verb a computer crashes, a system crashes, a program crashes

   Synonyms freeze; hang

4. lose valuesuddenly lose a lot of value

   intransitive [I] finance

   • Share prices crashed after the bad news.
   • When the housing market crashed, many people lost their homes.

   Collocations

   noun + verb prices crash, the market crashes

5. sleepfall asleep quickly because you are very tired, or sleep at someone's home for a night

   intransitive [I] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep] informal

   • I got home at midnight and crashed on the sofa. V + adv/prep
   • Can I crash at your place tonight? V + adv/prep

   Collocations

   verb + preposition crash on the sofa, crash at someone's place

6. partygo to a party or event when you have not been invited

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] informal

   • Some kids from another school tried to crash the party. V + obj
   • We crashed their wedding, but nobody seemed to mind. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun crash a party, crash a wedding