clash - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (original) (raw)

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

Of onomatopoeic origin. Compare Saterland Frisian klatskje (“to smack, slap”), West Frisian kletse, kletskje, Dutch kletsen (“to smack, slap, clash”), German Low German klattsen, klatsken (“to smack, splash”), German klatschen (“to clap, smack, slap”) and Klatsch (“a clapping sound; the din resulting from two or more things colliding”), Danish klaske (“to clash, splatter”).

clash (countable and uncountable, plural clashes)

  1. (onomatopoeia) A loud sound, like the crashing together of metal objects; a crash.
    I heard a clash from the kitchen, and rushed in to find the cat had knocked over some pots and pans.
    • 2025 January 28, Patricia McLinn, Lattimore Mountain (The Sheila Mackey Collection, Book 1), Craig Place Books, →ISBN:
      Alone amid clashes of rain against the house.
  2. A skirmish, a hostile encounter.
    • 2018, Pál Fodor, The Business of State. Ottoman Finance Administration and Ruling Elites in Transition (1580s–1615) (Studien zur Sprache, Geschichte und Kultur der Turkvölker; 28), Berlin: Klaus Schwarz Verlag × De Gruyter, published 2020, →DOI, →ISBN, page 50:
      In Anatolia tensions between state officials (ehl-i örf) and the peasants were strained to breaking point.
      At several places—particularly in the frontier provinces—there were fierce clashes between the janissaries stationed there and the governors. In Aleppo and Damascus incidents were common after 1589: the _kul_s threw rocks at the _beylerbeyi_’s house, killed people, broke into the divan several times and took the money prepared by the council for remittance to the centre.
    • 2026 March 11, Chad de Guzman, “Who Is Balendra Shah, the Rapper On Track to Become Nepal’s Next Prime Minister”, in TIME‎[1], archived from the original on 11 March 2026:
      Protesters took to the streets and stormed federal buildings. At least 77 people died in violent clashes between protesters and police and then-Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli was forced to resign.
  3. (sports) match; a game between two sides.
    • 2011, Tom Fordyce, Rugby World Cup 2011: England 12-19 France‎[2]:
      But they ran out of time and inspiration as Les Bleus set up a deserved semi-final clash with Wales.
  4. An angry argument.
  5. Opposition; contradiction; such as between differing or contending interests, views, purposes etc.
    clash of beliefs
    culture clash
  6. A combination of garments that do not look good together, especially because of conflicting colours.
    She was wearing a horrible clash of red and orange.
  7. (hurling) An instance of restarting the game after a "dead ball", where it is dropped between two opposing players, who can fight for possession.
  8. (Scotland) Chatter; gossip; idle talk.
  9. (UK dialectal, possibly obsolete) A heavy fall (of rain); heavy rain.
    Synonym: blash
    • 1802, The Farmer's Magazine: A Periodical Work, Exclusively Devoted to Agriculture, and Rural Affairs ..., page 172:
      clay soils ploughed in Autumn must often meet with heavy clashes of rain before frost: therefore , those salutary effects, expected to be derived from a frosty Winter, must often be frustrated, by the land being too much condensed by the rains before the frost comes on.
    • 1887, Thomas Clarke, Specimens of the dialects of Westmorland, by T. Clarke, page 39:
      T' taties offer't ta be a grand crop et forend, bet then seea mitch clash an caald wes again em, an thaev tean up varra smo, […]

loud sound

skirmish

angry argument

opposition; contradiction

clash (third-person singular simple present clashes, present participle clashing, simple past and past participle clashed)

  1. (intransitive) To make a clashing sound.
    The cymbals clashed.
  2. (transitive) To cause to make a clashing sound.
    • 2012, Robert Lyndon, Hawk Quest:
      Thorfinn clashed his shield against Vallon's and swung his axe to hook Vallon's ankle.
  3. (intransitive) To come into violent conflict.
    Fans from opposing teams clashed on the streets after the game.
  4. (intransitive) To argue angrily.
    My parents often clashed about minor things, such as the cleaning or shopping rota.
  5. (intransitive, in games or sports) To face each other in an important game.
    • 2008 June 27, “Jones confirms Calzaghe showdown”, in BBC Sport‎[3]:
      The veteran American legend claims he and Welsh two-weight world champion Calzaghe will clash on 20 September, probably at The MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
  6. (intransitive, of clothes, decor, colours) To fail to look good together; to contrast unattractively; to fail to harmonize.
    You can't wear that shirt! It clashes with your trousers.
    The hotel room was ugly, and the wallpaper clashed with the carpet.
  7. (intransitive, of events) To coincide, to happen at the same time, thereby rendering it impossible to attend all.
    I can't come to your wedding because it clashes with a friend's funeral.
    I wanted to take German, but it clashed with art on the timetable.
  8. (intransitive, Scotland) To chatter or gossip.
  9. (intransitive, slang, video games) To play Clash Royale or Clash of Clans.
    Dude, are we clashing tonight?
    Let's clash before bedtime.

to make a clashing sound

to conflict

to argue angrily

clash m (plural clashs)

  1. clash

Unadapted borrowing from English clash.

clash

  1. (Malaysia, slang) to break up (of relationship)
    Synonyms: putus, putus hubungan
    Kau ada dengar tak baru-baru ni Dira dah clash dengan Asmawi, weh.
    Hey, have you heard that recently Dira broke up with Asmawi.