clash

Of Onomatopoeic origin. Compare German klatschen (“to clap, smack, slap”) and Klatsch (“a clapping sound; the din resulting from two or more things colliding”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /klaʃ/, /klæʃ/
• (US) IPA^(key): /klæʃ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æʃ

clash (plural clashes)

1. (onomatopoeia) A loud sound, like the crashing together of metal objects.

   I heard a clash from the kitchen, and rushed in to find the cat had knocked over some pots and pans.

2. (military) A skirmish, a hostile encounter.
3. (sports) a match; a game between two sides.
   • 2011, Tom Fordyce, Rugby World Cup 2011: England 12-19 France‎:

     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.

   a clash of beliefs

   a personality 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.

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

1. to make a loud clash

   The plates clashed to the floor.

2. to come into violent conflict

   Fans from opposing teams clashed on the streets after the game.

3. (intransitive) to argue angrily

   My parents often clashed about minor things, such as the cleaning or shopping rota.

4. (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.

5. (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.

6. (intransitive, in games or sports) to face each other in an important game.
   • 2008 June 27, “Jones confirms Calzaghe showdown”, in BBC Sport‎:

     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.

• clashy
• electroclash
• soundclash

• chals