Cross

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations'cross', 'Cross': /krɒs/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/krɔs, krɑs/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(krôs, kros)

Inflections of 'cross' (adj):
crosser
adj comparative
crossest
adj superlative

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Cross /krɒs/ n the Cross ⇒
  1. the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified
  2. the Crucifixion of Jesus
Cross /krɒs/ n
  1. Richard Assheton, 1st Viscount. 1823–1914, British Conservative statesman, home secretary (1874–80); noted for reforms affecting housing, public health, and the employment of women and children in factories
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
cross /krɔs, krɑs/USA pronunciation   n., v., adj., -er, -est. 
n. [countable]
  1. a figure made up of two lines drawn across each other usually at right angles.
  2. a mark, usually anX, used as a signature or to indicate location, an error, etc.:The crosses mark the places where you must sign your name.
  3. a wooden structure made up of a piece standing upright and another attached across it, upon which people were formerly put to death.
  4. Religionthe Cross, [proper noun] the cross upon which Jesus died.
  5. Religiona figure of a cross, or of the Cross as a Christian emblem:rows and rows of crosses in the cemetery.
  6. Religiona sign made with the hand outlining the figure of a cross upon the upper part of the body, done as an act of religious devotion.
  7. a cause of trouble, suffering, or misfortune:He had to bear the cross of his children's attempted suicides.
  8. Geneticsa crossing of animals or plants, or an animal or plant produced this way;
    crossbreed:The mule is a cross between a female horse and a male donkey.
  9. a person or thing intermediate in character between two others:The school seemed to be a cross between a train station and a cathedral: noisy and crowded one second, then quiet and serene the next.

v. 
  1. to move from one side to the other side of (a street, etc.): [~ + object]Cross the street at the corner.[no object]She crossed to the other side of the room.
  2. to assist (a person) across a street or intersection:[~ + object]The crossing guard is at the corner to cross the children in the morning.
  3. to cancel by marking with a cross or drawing a line through or across: [~ + off + object]I crossed off the items on the shopping list.[~ + out + object]She had crossed out my name on the list.[~ + object + off/out]to cross names off.
  4. to intersect;
    meet: [no object]The paths of our lives crossed again.[~ + object]Highway 50 crosses highway 80 right here.
    • [~ + object] to go over and beyond:We crossed the border at exactly 5:35 a.m.
    • [no object] to meet and then pass:I think our two letters must have crossed in the mail.
  6. Geneticsto cause (members of two different species, etc.) to breed with each other: [~ + object + with + object]Mendel crossed green peas with yellow peas.[~ + object]Mendel crossed green and yellow peas to see what would result.
  7. [~ + object] to oppose openly;
    get in the way of:She can be nice and even charming as long as you don't cross her.
  8. [~ + object] to place across each other, on top of each other, or crosswise: He crossed his legs.
  9. Religion[~ + oneself] to make the sign of the cross upon or over: He crossed himself in front of the casket.
  10. cross over, [no object]
    • to switch loyalty or allegiance:Many Republicans have crossed over and voted Democrat.
    • to change successfully from one field to another:She was able to cross over from jazz to pop music.
  11. cross up,
    • to deceive;
      double-cross: [~ + object + up]If you try to cross us up, you'll regret it.[~ + up + object]No one crosses up the Duke and lives to tell about it.
    • to confuse: [~ + up + object]Our team tried to cross up the opposition by switching our plays.[~ + object + up]We nearly succeeded in crossing them up.

adj. 
  1. angry and annoyed;
    ill-humored:I felt cross because I hadn't slept well.
Idioms
  1. Idioms cross one's mind, to occur to one: The idea never crossed my mind.

cross•ly, adv.: "I'm too tired to get up,'' she answered crossly.
cross•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
cross  (krôs, kros),USA pronunciation n., v., adj., -er, -est. 
n. 
    1. a structure consisting essentially of an upright and a transverse piece, upon which persons were formerly put to death.
    2. any object, figure, or mark resembling a cross, as two intersecting lines.
    3. a mark resembling a cross, usually an X, made instead of a signature by a person unable to write.
    4. Religion the Cross, the cross upon which Jesus died.
    5. Religiona figure of the Cross as a Christian emblem, badge, etc.
    6. Religionthe Cross as the symbol of Christianity.
    7. Religiona small cross with a human figure attached to it, as a representation of Jesus crucified;
      crucifix.
    8. Religiona sign made with the right hand by tracing the figure of a cross in the air or by touching the foreheard, chest, and shoulders, as an act of devotion.
    9. Religiona structure or monument in the form of a cross, set up for prayer, as a memorial, etc.
    10. Religionany of various conventional representations or modifications of the Christian emblem used symbolically or for ornament, as in heraldry or art:a Latin cross; a Maltese cross.
    11. Religionthe crucifixion of Jesus as the culmination of His redemptive mission.
    12. Religionany suffering endured for Jesus' sake.
    13. Religionthe teaching of redemption gained by Jesus' death.
    14. Religionthe Christian religion, or those who accept it;
      Christianity;
      Christendom.
    15. an opposition;
      thwarting;
      frustration.
    16. any misfortune;
      trouble.
    17. Geneticsa crossing of animals or plants;
      a mixing of breeds.
    18. Geneticsan animal, plant, breed, etc., produced by crossing;
      crossbreed.
    19. a person or thing that is intermediate in character between two others.
    20. Sport[Boxing.]a punch thrown across and over the lead of an opponent.
    21. Slang Termsa contest the result of which is dishonestly arranged beforehand.
    22. a crossing.
    23. a place of crossing.
    24. [Plumbing.]a four-way joint or connection.
    25. Theater, Show Businessan actor's movement from one area of a stage to another.
    26. Stock Exchange, BusinessAlso called cross-trade. an arrangement for the simultaneous sale and purchase of a block of stock handled by a single broker.
    27. Mechanical Engineering[Mach.]spider (def. 6b).
    28. Astronomy(cap.) See Southern Cross. 
    29. Idioms bear one's cross, to accept trials or troubles patiently.
    30. Idioms take the cross, to make the vows of a crusader.

    v.t. 
    1. to move, pass, or extend from one side to the other side of (a street, river, etc.).
    2. to put or draw (a line, lines, etc.) across.
    3. to cancel by marking with a cross or with a line or lines (often fol. by off or out).
    4. to mark with a cross.
    5. to lie or pass across;
      intersect.
    6. to meet and pass.
    7. to transport across something.
    8. to assist or guide (a person) across a street or intersection:The guard crossed the child at the traffic light.
    9. to place in the form of a cross or crosswise.
    10. Genetics[Biol.]to cause (members of different genera, species, breeds, varieties, or the like) to interbreed.
    11. to oppose openly;
      thwart;
      frustrate.
    12. Slang Termsto betray;
      double-cross.
    13. Religionto make the sign of a cross upon or over, as in devotion:to cross oneself.
    14. Nautical, Naval Termsto set (a yard) in proper position on a mast.
    15. [Obs.]to confront in a hostile manner.

    v.i. 
    1. to lie or be athwart;
      intersect.
    2. to move, pass, or extend from one side or place to another:Cross at the intersection.
    3. to meet and pass.
    4. to interbreed.
    5. Show Business[Theat.]to move from one side of the stage to the other, esp. by passing downstage of another actor.
    6. Idioms cross one's heart. See heart (def. 22).
    7. Idioms cross one's mind. See mind (def. 21).
    8. Idioms cross one's path. See path (def. 6).
    9. cross over:
      • Genetics[Biol.](of a chromosome segment) to undergo crossing over.
      • to switch allegiance, as from one political party to another.
      • to change successfully from one field of endeavor, genre, etc., to another:to cross over from jazz to rock.
      • Also, cross over to the other side. to die;
        pass away.
    10. Idioms cross someone's palm. See palm 1 (def. 11).
    11. cross up:
      • to change arrangements made with;
        deceive:He crossed me up after we had agreed to tell the police the same story.
      • to confuse:I was supposed to meet him at the station, but got crossed up.

    adj. 
    1. angry and annoyed;
      ill-humored;
      snappish:Don't be cross with me.
    2. lying or passing crosswise or across each other;
      athwart;
      transverse:cross timbers.
    3. involving a reciprocal action, interchange, or the like:a cross-endorsement of political candidates; cross-marketing of related services.
    4. contrary;
      opposite:They were at cross purposes with each other.
    5. adverse;
      unfavorable.
    6. crossbred;
      hybrid.
    • Latin crux; see crux
    • British Celtic)
    • Old Irish cros (
    • Old Norse kross
    • Middle English, late Old English cros bef. 1000
    cross′a•ble, adj. 
    cross′a•bil′i•ty, n. 
      31. 35. traverse, span, bridge. 41. baffle, foil, contradict. 57. petulant, fractious, irascible, waspish, crabbed, churlish, sulky, cantankerous, cranky, ill-tempered, impatient, irritable, fretful, touchy, testy. Cross, ill-natured, peevish, sullen refer to being in a bad mood or ill temper. Cross means temporarily in an irritable or fretful state, and somewhat angry:a cross reply.Ill-natured implies a more permanent condition, without definite cause, and means unpleasant, unkind, inclined to snarl or be spiteful:an ill-natured dog; ill-natured spite.Peevish means complaining and snappish:a peevish child.Sullen suggests a kind of glowering silent gloominess and means refusing to speak because of bad humor, anger, or a sense of injury or resentment:sullen and vindictive.
      41. aid. 57. good-natured, agreeable.
Cross  (krôs, kros),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. Biographical Wilbur Lucius, 1862–1948, U.S. educator: governor of Connecticut 1931–39.

cross-, 
  1. a combining form of cross. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
cross /krɒs/ n
  1. a structure or symbol consisting essentially of two intersecting lines or pieces at right angles to one another
  2. a wooden structure used as a means of execution, consisting of an upright post with a transverse piece to which people were nailed or tied
  3. a representation of the Cross used as an emblem of Christianity or as a reminder of Christ's death
  4. any mark or shape consisting of two intersecting lines, esp such a symbol (×) used as a signature, point of intersection, error mark, etc
  5. a sign representing the Cross made either by tracing a figure in the air or by touching the forehead, breast, and either shoulder in turn
  6. any conventional variation of the Christian symbol, used emblematically, decoratively, or heraldically, such as a Maltese, tau, or Greek cross
  7. a cruciform emblem awarded to indicate membership of an order or as a decoration for distinguished service
  8. (sometimes capital) Christianity or Christendom, esp as contrasted with non-Christian religions
  9. the place in a town or village where a cross has been set up
    • the process of crossing; hybridization
    • an individual produced as a result of this process
  11. a mixture of two qualities or types
  12. an opposition, hindrance, or misfortune; affliction (esp in the phrase bear one's cross)
  13. a straight punch delivered from the side, esp with the right hand
  14. the act or an instance of kicking or passing the ball from a wing to the middle of the field
 vb
  1. (sometimes followed by over) to move or go across (something); traverse or intersect
    • to meet and pass
    • (of each of two letters in the post) to be dispatched before receipt of the other
  3. (transitive; usually followed by out, off, or through) to cancel with a cross or with lines; delete
  4. (transitive) to place or put in a form resembling a cross: to cross one's legs
  5. (transitive) to mark with a cross or crosses
  6. (transitive) Brit to draw two parallel lines across the face of (a cheque) and so make it payable only into a bank account
  7. (transitive)
    • to trace the form of the Cross, usually with the thumb or index finger upon (someone or something) in token of blessing
    • to make the sign of the Cross upon (oneself)
  8. (intransitive) (of telephone lines) to interfere with each other so that three or perhaps four callers are connected together at one time
  9. to cause fertilization between (plants or animals of different breeds, races, varieties, etc)
  10. (transitive) to oppose the wishes or plans of; thwart
  11. to kick or pass (the ball) from a wing to the middle of the field
  12. cross one's fingers ⇒ to fold one finger across another in the hope of bringing good luck
  13. cross one's heart ⇒ to promise or pledge, esp by making the sign of a cross over one's heart
  14. cross one's mind ⇒ to occur to one briefly or suddenly
  15. cross someone's path ⇒ to meet or thwart someone
  16. cross swords ⇒ to argue or fight
 adj
  1. angry; ill-humoured; vexed
  2. lying or placed across; transverse: a cross timber
  3. involving interchange; reciprocal
  4. contrary or unfavourable
  5. another word for crossbred
  6. a Brit slang word for dishonest
Etymology: Old English cros, from Old Irish cross (unattested), from Latin crux; see cruxˈcrossly adv ˈcrossness n
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
cross- combining form
  1. indicating action from one individual, group, etc, to another: cross-cultural, cross-fertilize, cross-refer
  2. indicating movement, position, etc, across something (sometimes implying interference, opposition, or contrary action): crosscurrent, crosstalk
  3. indicating a crosslike figure or intersection: crossbones
Etymology: from cross (in various senses)
'Cross' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
aerofoil - AFC - Agnus Dei - airfoil - ampere - angle iron - ankh - assistance dog - asterisk - astragal - avatar - baguette - barn - bead - Bernadotte - biathlon - billet - bitt - blank - boron carbide - box junction - BRCS - bridge - Calabar - cancel - carambola - carnet - Caterpillar - Celtic cross - Charing Cross - Cheshire - chiasma - cockeyed - computerized tomography - Croix de Guerre - crosier - cross-bench - crosswise - cross- - crossbred - cross-contaminate - cross-country - cross-curricular - cross-dressing - cross-examine - cross-eye - cross-eyed - cross-fertilize - across - Acrux

Forum discussions with the word(s) "Cross" in the title:


Look up "Cross" at Merriam-Webster
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