impinging

im·pinge  (m-pnj)

v. im·pinged, im·ping·ing, im·ping·es

v.intr.

1. To collide or strike: Sound waves impinge on the eardrum.

2. To encroach; trespass: Do not impinge on my privacy.

v.tr.

To encroach upon: "One of a democratic government's continuing challenges is finding a way to protect . . . secrets without impinging the liberties that democracy exists to protect" (Christian Science Monitor).

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[Latin impingere : in-, against; see in-² + pangere, to fasten; see pag- in Indo-European roots.]

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im·pingement n.

im·pinger n.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

impinging - the physical coming together of two or more things; "contact with the pier scraped paint from the hull" striking, contact happening, natural event, occurrence, occurrent - an event that happens collision, hit - (physics) a brief event in which two or more bodies come together; "the collision of the particles resulted in an exchange of energy and a change of direction" interlocking, meshing, mesh, engagement - contact by fitting together; "the engagement of the clutch"; "the meshing of gears" flick - a light sharp contact (usually with something flexible); "he gave it a flick with his finger"; "he felt the flick of a whip" impact - the striking of one body against another touch, touching - the event of something coming in contact with the body; "he longed for the touch of her hand"; "the cooling touch of the night air"