impact

Etymology

Attested since the 17th century, from Latin impāctus, perfect passive participle of impingō (“dash against, impinge”), from in- + pangō (“fasten, drive in”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂ǵ-.

noun

1. The striking of one body against another; collision.
2. The force or energy of a collision of two objects.
   The hatchet cut the wood on impact.
3. (chiefly medicine) A forced impinging.
   His spine had an impingement; L4 and L5 made impact, which caused numbness in his leg.
4. (figurative, proscribed) A significant or strong influence or effect.
   His friend's opinion had an impact on his decision.
   Our choice of concrete will have a tremendous impact on the building's mechanical performance.
   One way to reduce the environmental impact of meat eating is to make livestock more productive. 2016, Jayson Lusk, Unnaturally Delicious, page 111

verb

1. (transitive) To collide or strike, the act of impinging.
   When the hammer impacts the nail, it bends.
2. (transitive) To compress; to compact; to press into something or pack together.
   The footprints of birds do not impact the soil in the way those of dinosaurs do.
3. (transitive, figurative, proscribed) To significantly or strongly influence or affect; to have an impact on.
   I can make the changes, but it will impact the schedule.
4. (transitive, rare) To stamp or impress onto something.
   Ideas impacted on the mind.