clash

1 verb

1 (I) if two armies, or groups of people clash, they suddenly start fighting each other: Troops clashed near the border.

(+ with): Police have clashed with demonstrators again today.

2 (I) if two people or groups of people clash, they argue because their opinions and beliefs are very different

(+ with): Democrats clashed with Republicans in a heated debate.

3 (I) if two colours or patterns clash, they look very bad together

(+ with): That purple tie clashes with your red shirt.

4 (I) if two events clash, they happen at the same time in a way that is inconvenient

(+ with): Unfortunately the concert clashed with Ann and Jim's dinner party.

5 (I, T) if two pieces of metal clash or if you clash them, they make a loud ringing sound: The cymbals clashed.

2 noun (C)

1 a short fight between two armies or groups of people: border clashes

2 an argument between two people or groups of people: a clash of temperament

(+ between): angry clashes between Tory and Labour ministers | personality clash (=a situation in which two people do not like each other)

3 a loud sound made by two metal objects being hit together: the clash of swords

4 a combination of two colours, designs etc that look bad together

5 a situation in which two events happen at the same time in a way that is inconvenient: a scheduling clash on TV