impact

I. verb Etymology: Latin impactus, past participle of impingere to push against — more at impinge Date: 1601 transitive verb 1. a. to fix firmly by or as if by packing or wedging b. to press together 2. a. to have a direct effect or impact on ; impinge on b. to strike forcefully; also to cause to strike forcefully intransitive verb 1. to have an impact — often used with on 2. to impinge or make contact especially forcefully • impactful adjective • impactive adjective • impactor also impacter noun II. noun Date: 1781 1. a. an impinging or striking especially of one body against another b. a forceful contact or onset; also the impetus communicated in or as if in such a contact 2. the force of impression of one thing on another ; a significant or major effect <

the impact of science on our society

> <

an environmental impact study

> Synonyms: impact, collision, shock, concussion mean a forceful, even violent contact between two or more things. impact may be used to imply contact between two things, at least one of which is impelled toward the other <

the glass shattered on impact with the floor

>. collision implies the coming together of two or more things with such force that both or all are damaged or their progress is severely impeded <

the collision damaged the vehicle

>. shock often denotes the effect produced by a collision and carries the suggestion of something that strikes or hits with force <

the shock of falling rocks

>. concussion when not in technical use, often suggests the shattering, disrupting, or weakening effects of a collision, explosion, or blow <

bystanders felt the concussion of the blast

>.