cruiser

American  

[kroo-zer] / ˈkru zər /

noun

1. a person or thing that cruises.

2. one of a class of warships of medium tonnage, designed for high speed and long cruising radius.

3. squad car.

4. a vessel, especially a power-driven one, intended for cruising.

5. cabin cruiser.

6. Also called timber cruiser.  a person who estimates the value of the timber in a tract of forest.

7. Slang. a prostitute who walks the street soliciting customers.

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cruiser British  

/ ˈkruːzə /

noun

1. a high-speed, long-range warship of medium displacement, armed with medium calibre weapons or missiles

2. Also called: cabin cruiser.  a pleasure boat, esp one that is power-driven and has a cabin

3. any person or thing that cruises

4. boxing cruiserweight See light heavyweight

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Etymology

Origin of cruiser

1670–80; < Dutch kruiser, equivalent to kruis ( en ) to cruise + -er -er ¹

Example Sentences

NASSAU, Bahamas—The 4,400 cruisers on Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas had plenty of options when the ship docked in the Bahamas Friday morning.

From The Wall Street Journal

The warship's welcoming ceremony outside the naval base of Salamis included a copy of an ancient Athenian trireme and the Georgios Averof, a historic cruiser that fought in the Balkan Wars.

From Barron's

I let the animal control lady lead me to her cruiser and drive me to the hospital.

From Literature

A New York Police Department cruiser sat opposite the main entrance.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Navy has 287 ships in its inventory, mostly destroyers, cruisers, aircraft carriers, amphibious ships and submarines.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• battleship
• corvette
• cutter
• destroyer
• frigate
• gunboat
• submarine