Definition of "accident" in Anglais

noun

1. An unexpected event with negative consequences occurring without the intention of the one suffering the consequences, and (in the strict sense) not directly caused by humans.

   • to die by an accident such as an act of God

2. (transport) A collision or crash of a vehicle, aircraft, or other form of transportation that causes damage to the transportation involved; and sometimes injury or death to the transportation's occupants or bystanders in close proximity. (but see Usage notes)

   • There was a huge accident on I5 involving 15 automobiles.
   • My insurance went up after the second accident in three months.

3. Any chance event.

4. (uncountable) Chance; random chance.

   • c.1861-1863, Richard Chevenix Trench, in 1888, Letters and memorials, Volume 1, Thou cam'st not to thy place by accident, / It is the very place God meant for thee; […]

5. Any property, fact, or relation that is the result of chance or is nonessential or nonsubstantive.

   • Beauty is an accident.
   • Lexical gaps are called accidental because their existence is by accident; it is not essential.
   • 14thC, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Pardoner's Prologue and Tale in The Canterbury Tales, These cookes how they stamp, and strain, and grind, / And turne substance into accident, / To fulfill all thy likerous talent!

6. (euphemistic) An instance of incontinence.

7. (euphemistic) An unintended pregnancy.

8. (geology) An irregular surface feature with no apparent cause.

9. (geology) A sudden discontinuity of ground such as fault of great thickness, bed or lentil of unstable ground.

10. (heraldry) A point or mark which may be retained or omitted in a coat of arms.

adjective

1. (transport) Designating any form of transportation involved in an accident.

   • The NTSB report revealed that the accident airplane was a Cessna 172.