crossroad

American  

[kraws-rohd, kros-] / ˈkrɔsˌroʊd, ˈkrɒs- /

noun

1. a road that crosses another road, or one that runs transversely to main roads.

2. a by-road.

3. (used with a singular or plural verb) Often crossroads.

   1. the place where roads intersect.

   2. a point at which a vital decision must be made.

   3. a main center of activity.

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crossroad British  

/ ˈkrɒsˌrəʊd /

noun

1. a road that crosses another road

2. Also called: crossway.  a road that crosses from one main road to another

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Etymology

Origin of crossroad

First recorded in 1710–20; cross- + road

Example Sentences

My best friend Jeb and I used to sit at that crossroads when we were younger, waiting for something interesting to come along, like an automobile or a circus wagon.

From Literature

It became a vibrant crossroads under the Ottoman Empire, said Artega, 55, and its population grew to around 25,000 as a construction boom took off.

From Barron's

The first half ends with Benedict and Sophie at a crossroads, an impasse.

From Los Angeles Times

Education in Northern Ireland is at a "crossroads", according to the heads of some of the biggest schools in the region.

From BBC

Italy has always been a cultural crossroads, and its food reflects centuries of migration, trade, and regional isolation.

From Salon

Related Words

• intersection