clash

Noun

1. (countable, onomatopoeic, uncountable) A loud sound, like the crashing together of metal objects; a crash.
2. (countable, uncountable) A skirmish, a hostile encounter.
3. (countable, uncountable) match; a game between two sides.
4. (countable, uncountable) An angry argument.
5. (countable, uncountable) Opposition; contradiction; such as between differing or contending interests, views, purposes etc.
6. (countable, uncountable) A combination of garments that do not look good together, especially because of conflicting colours.
7. (countable, uncountable) 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, countable, uncountable) Chatter; gossip; idle talk.
9. (UK, countable, dialectal, obsolete, possibly, uncountable) A heavy fall (of rain); heavy rain.

Verb

1. (intransitive) To make a clashing sound.
2. (transitive) To cause to make a clashing sound.
3. (intransitive) To come into violent conflict.
4. (intransitive) To argue angrily.
5. (intransitive) To face each other in an important game.
6. (intransitive) To fail to look good together; to contrast unattractively; to fail to harmonize.
7. (intransitive) To coincide, to happen at the same time, thereby rendering it impossible to attend all.
8. (Scotland, intransitive) To chatter or gossip.
9. (intransitive, slang) To play Clash Royale or Clash of Clans.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/klaʃ/

Etymology

Cognate with Saterland Frisian: klatskje

Cognate with Western Frisian: kletse

Cognate with Dutch: kletsen

Cognate with German: klatschen

Cognate with Danish: klaske

In summary

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”).

Synonyms

conflict

collision

💥

collide

fight

crash

confrontation

encounter

skirmish

quarrel

clank

clang

argue

jar

🫙

squabble

dispute

scuffle

clatter

strife

disagree

brush

clangour

meet

rattle

clangor

oppose

fray

clap

👏

battle

discord

go awry

brawl

cross each other

run counter to

differ

blow

smash

tussle

impact

contrast

contrary to

inconsistency

run-in

be against

contradiction

bump into

confront

antagonism

disagreement

friction

clangoring