August 31, 2011 - Word of the Day: crash

When two cars get into an accident, we say "There was a crash," or "Two cars crashed." When solid objects collide, we can use the word "crash." The sentences below will show you a few other popular ways to use this word:

• Do you mind if I crash on your couch tonight? I'm too tired to drive. (crash = sleep)
• The stock market crashed last week. (crash = stocks or bonds lose value very quickly)
• I'm afraid my computer is going to crash if I use this program. (crash = a computer does too many things simultaneously and stops working.)
• A drunken couple crashed the wedding reception and were kicked out of the banquet hall. (crash = go to a party uninvited.)

As a noun, it looks like this:

• A violent crash outside of the building resulted in two fatalities.
• A stock market crash was predicted by only a few experts before it happened.

You can also use "crash" as an adjective:

• Investigators surveyed the damage at the crash site.
• Some rich guy is using the apartment downstairs as a crash pad on days when he doesn't want to drive back to the suburbs. (crash pad = an apartment or condo used for sleeping or temporary living, usually used by someone who has a lot of money.)

Word of the Day for August 30, 2011: embarrass

Word of the Day: August 2011

Word of the Day: July 2011