Definition of "impact" []

• The striking of one body against another; collision. See Synonyms at collision. (noun)
• The force or impetus transmitted by a collision. (noun)
• The effect or impression of one thing on another: still gauging the impact of automation on the lives of factory workers. (noun)
• The power of making a strong, immediate impression: a speech that lacked impact. (noun)
• To pack firmly together. (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "A number of studies on the social impact of the Tangaye project were undertaken by Roberts. 3 These studies examined the “impact of mechanising arduous, time-consuming village tasks on the life of women, with the power source viewed as a black-box”. 4 They were studies of the effects of pumped water supply and a power-operated grain mill in a remote village."
• "I define and use the term impact indicators as those issues that directly affect positively or negatively food security such as population, water, land, and economic growth/development."
• "Mr. Roberts said the company can better absorb the margin impact from the deal now that costs are lowered."