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crossroad

[kraws-rohd, kros-]
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noun
  1. a road that crosses another road, or one that runs transversely to main roads.
  2. a by-road.
  3. Often crossroads. (used with a singular or plural verb)
    1. the place where roads intersect.
    2. a point at which a vital decision must be made.
    3. a main center of activity.

Origin of crossroad

First recorded in 1710–20; cross- + road
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for crossroad

Historical Examples

  • There is just this one little tree, near the crossroad by the old stone house.

    The Green Satin Gown

    Laura E. Richards

  • There was an arrow pointing along the crossroad and off to the right.

    Galusha the Magnificent

    Joseph C. Lincoln

  • At a crossroad, in fact, the white pack had vanished into void.

    Mayflower (Flor de mayo)

    Vicente Blasco Ibez

  • She had not gone far when she saw a boy coming out of a crossroad.

    Peggy in Her Blue Frock

    Eliza Orne White

  • They came to a crossroad, turned into it, and stopped short before a gate.

    The Windy Hill

    Cornelia Meigs

British Dictionary definitions for crossroad

crossroad

noun US and Canadian
  1. a road that crosses another road
  2. Also called: crossway a road that crosses from one main road to another
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for crossroad

n.

1719, from cross (adj.) + road.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper