impact

Meanings

Noun

• The striking of one body against another; collision.
• The force or energy of a collision of two objects.
• A forced impinging.
• A significant or strong influence; an effect.

Verb

• To collide or strike, the act of impinging.
• To compress; to compact; to press into something or pack together.
• To influence; to affect; to have an impact on.
• To stamp or impress onto something.

Origin

• Attested since the 17th century, from Latin impāctus, perfect passive participle of impingō, from in- + pangō, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂ǵ-.