crisscross

[kris-kraws, -kros]

verb (used with object)

1. to move back and forth over.

   students crisscrossing the field on their way to school.

2. to mark with crossing lines.

verb (used without object)

1. to proceed or pass back and forth; be arranged in a crisscross pattern.

   The streets in that part of town crisscross confusingly.

adjective

1. Also crisscrossed having many crossing lines, paths, etc.

noun

1. a crisscross mark, pattern, etc.

2. tick-tack-toe.

adverb

1. in a crisscross manner; crosswise.

2. awry; askew.

crisscross

/ ˈkrɪsˌkrɒs /

verb

1. to move or cause to move in a crosswise pattern

2. to mark with or consist of a pattern of crossing lines

adjective

1. (esp of a number of lines) crossing one another in different directions

noun

1. a pattern made of crossing lines

2. a US term for noughts and crosses

adverb

1. in a crosswise manner or pattern

Word History and Origins

Origin of crisscross¹

First recorded in 1810–20; variant of christcross

Example Sentences

Freymond described the two men’s lives crisscrossing at houses and five-star hotels across Spain, Switzerland and London, where they lived in nearby apartments.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In Traynor’s vision, lighters, can openers and outlet covers are reimagined as exquisite pieces of Brutalist art, crisscrossed with strips of tin, encrusted with sea glass and stones.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Josh Suggs, the 22-year-old founder and chief executive of 203 Media, had been crisscrossing Manhattan’s Washington Square Park trying to find participants willing to smell a men’s body wash and react on camera.

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Meanwhile, many of my relatives were crisscrossing planet Earth.

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While the 11 rival candidates crisscrossed the central African country pressing the flesh ahead of the October 12 vote, Biya's campaign has been largely virtual, true to his reputation as a secretive "sphinx".

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• cross 
• interlaced www.thesaurus.com
• intersecting www.thesaurus.com
• interwoven www.thesaurus.com
• woven