Definition

1. Noun:
   • A strong protective barrier erected around a racetrack or in the middle of a dual-lane highway to reduce the likelihood of severe accidents: A physical structure designed to absorb impact and prevent vehicles from leaving the roadway or crossing into oncoming traffic.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The car swerved but was stopped by the crash barrier.
  • New crash barriers were installed along the dangerous mountain road.
  • The race car hit the crash barrier at high speed but the driver was unharmed.

Advanced Usage

• "to be protected by a crash barrier": to have a physical barrier as a safety measure.
  • The pedestrian area is now protected by a crash barrier.
• "to install/reinforce crash barriers": to put up or strengthen these safety structures.
  • The city council voted to reinforce the crash barriers on the bridge.

Variants and Related Words

• Safety barrier (n): A more general term for any barrier designed to improve safety.
  • Safety barriers are essential on construction sites.
• Guardrail (n): A similar barrier, often made of metal, used along roadsides. (Note: 'Guardrail' is often used interchangeably with 'crash barrier' in some contexts, though 'crash barrier' can imply a heavier-duty structure.)
  • The guardrail prevented the truck from going over the cliff.

Synonyms

• Impact barrier: A barrier specifically designed to withstand collisions.
• Protective barrier: A general term for any barrier that provides protection.

Related Phrases

• "to hit the crash barrier": to collide with the safety barrier.
  • The skidding vehicle hit the crash barrier head-on.
• "separated by a crash barrier": having a barrier between, typically used for lanes of traffic.
  • The northbound and southbound lanes are separated by a concrete crash barrier.

Related Idioms

Noun

1. a strong protective barrier that is erected around a racetrack or in the middle of a dual-lane highway in order to reduce the likelihood of severe accidents