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• cross
  cross

  noun

  a structure consisting essentially of an upright and a transverse piece, used to execute persons in ancient times.
• Cross
  Cross

  noun

  Wilbur Lucius, 1862–1948, U.S. educator: governor of Connecticut 1931–39.
• cross-
  cross-

  a combining form of cross, used to indicate an interaction or exchange of two or more things (cross-addicted, cross-cultural, cross-pollination ), the extension across a space or the covering of a distance (cross-border, crosscountry ), or the passing across or perpendicular intersection with something (crossbar, crosscurrent ).

cross

¹ American  

[kraws, kros] / krɔs, krɒs /

noun

• crosses
  plural

1. a structure consisting essentially of an upright and a transverse piece, used to execute persons in ancient times.

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. the Cross, the cross upon which Jesus died.

5. a figure of the Cross as a Christian emblem, badge, etc.

6. the Cross as the symbol of Christianity.

7. a small cross with a human figure attached to it, as a representation of Jesus crucified; crucifix.

8. a 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. a structure or monument in the form of a cross, set up for prayer, as a memorial, etc.

10. any 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. the crucifixion of Jesus as the culmination of His redemptive mission.

12. any suffering endured for Jesus' sake.

13. the teaching of redemption gained by Jesus' death.

14. the Christian religion, or those who accept it; Christianity; Christendom.

15. an opposition; thwarting; frustration.

16. any misfortune; trouble.

17. a crossing of animals or plants; a mixing of breeds.

18. an animal, plant, breed, etc., produced by crossing; crossbreed.

19. a person or thing that is intermediate in character between two others.

20. Boxing. a punch thrown across and over the lead of an opponent.

    a left jab, followed by a right cross.

21. Older Slang. a contest the result of which is dishonestly arranged beforehand.

    Many of the onlookers, especially some who had bet heavily on Taylor, complained loudly that the fight was a “damnable cross.”

22. a crossing.

23. a place of crossing.

24. Plumbing. a four-way joint or connection.

25. Theater. an actor's movement from one area of a stage to another.

26. Also called cross-trade. Stock Exchange. an arrangement for the simultaneous sale and purchase of a block of stock handled by a single broker.

27. Machinery. spider.

28. (initial capital letter) Southern Cross.

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verb (used with object)

• crosses,
  present (3rd person singular)
• crossed,
  past participle,  past
• crossing
  present participle

1. to move, pass, or extend from one side to the other side of (a street, river, etc.).

   Synonyms:

   bridge, span, traverse

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 followed by off orout ).

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. Biology. to cause (members of different genera, species, breeds, varieties, or the like) to interbreed.

11. to oppose openly; thwart; frustrate.

    Synonyms:

    contradict, foil, baffle

    Antonyms:

    help, assist, aid

12. Slang. to betray; double-cross.

13. to make the sign of a cross upon or over, as in devotion.

    to cross oneself.

14. Nautical. to set (a yard) in proper position on a mast.

15. Obsolete. to confront in a hostile manner.

verb (used without object)

• crosses,
  present (3rd person singular)
• crossed,
  past participle,  past
• crossing
  present participle

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. Theater. to move from one side of the stage to the other, especially by passing downstage of another actor.

adjective

• crosser,
  comparative
• crossest
  superlative

1. angry and annoyed; ill-humored; snappish.

   Don't be cross with me.

   Synonyms:

   testy, touchy, fretful, irritable, impatient, ill-tempered, cranky, cantankerous, sulky, churlish, crabbed, waspish, irascible, fractious, petulant

   Antonyms:

   agreeable, good-humored, good-natured

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.

verb phrase

1. cross over Also cross over to the other side

   1. Biology. (of a chromosome segment) to undergo crossing over.

   2. to switch allegiance, as from one political party to another.

   3. to change successfully from one field of endeavor, genre, etc., to another.

      to cross over from jazz to rock.

   4. to die; pass away.

2. cross up

   1. to change arrangements made with; deceive.

      He crossed me up after we had agreed to tell the police the same story.

   2. to confuse.

      I was supposed to meet him at the station, but got crossed up.

idioms

1. on the cross, in a dishonest manner; illegally.

   Her elegant clothes and those two splendid rings had been acquired on the cross.

2. take the cross, to make the vows of a crusader.

3. bear one's cross, to accept trials or troubles patiently.

4. cross one's mind. mind.

5. cross one's heart. heart.

6. cross one's path. path.

7. cross the line, line.

8. cross someone's palm (with silver), to give money to, especially in payment for a service.

   I shall tell your fortune, but you must first cross my palm with silver.

Cross ² American  

[kraws, kros] / krɔs, krɒs /

noun

1. Wilbur Lucius, 1862–1948, U.S. educator: governor of Connecticut 1931–39.

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cross- ³ American  

1. a combining form of cross, used to indicate an interaction or exchange of two or more things (cross-addicted, cross-cultural, cross-pollination ), the extension across a space or the covering of a distance (cross-border, crosscountry ), or the passing across or perpendicular intersection with something (crossbar, crosscurrent ).

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cross- ¹ British  

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

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Cross ² British  

/ krɒs /

noun

1. the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified

2. the Crucifixion of Jesus

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cross ³ British  

/ krɒs /

noun

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. heraldry any of several charges in which one line crosses or joins another at right angles

8. a cruciform emblem awarded to indicate membership of an order or as a decoration for distinguished service

9. (sometimes capital) Christianity or Christendom, esp as contrasted with non-Christian religions

   Cross and Crescent

10. the place in a town or village where a cross has been set up

11. a pipe fitting, in the form of a cross, for connecting four pipes

12. biology

    1. the process of crossing; hybridization

    2. an individual produced as a result of this process

13. a mixture of two qualities or types

    he's a cross between a dictator and a saint

14. an opposition, hindrance, or misfortune; affliction (esp in the phrase bear one's cross )

15. slang a match or game in which the outcome has been rigged

16. slang a fraud or swindle

17. boxing a straight punch delivered from the side, esp with the right hand

18. football the act or an instance of kicking or passing the ball from a wing to the middle of the field

19. 1. diagonally

    2. slang dishonestly

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verb

1. (sometimes foll by over) to move or go across (something); traverse or intersect

   we crossed the road

2. 1. to meet and pass

      the two trains crossed

   2. (of each of two letters in the post) to be dispatched before receipt of the other

3. (tr; usually foll by out, off, or through) to cancel with a cross or with lines; delete

4. (tr) to place or put in a form resembling a cross

   to cross one's legs

5. (tr) to mark with a cross or crosses

6. (tr) to draw two parallel lines across the face of (a cheque) and so make it payable only into a bank account

7. (tr)

   1. to trace the form of the Cross, usually with the thumb or index finger upon (someone or something) in token of blessing

   2. to make the sign of the Cross upon (oneself)

8. (intr) (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. (tr) to oppose the wishes or plans of; thwart

    his opponent crosses him at every turn

11. football to kick or pass (the ball) from a wing to the middle of the field

12. (tr) nautical to set (the yard of a square sail) athwartships

13. to deal with matters, problems, etc, as they arise; not to anticipate difficulties

14. to fold one finger across another in the hope of bringing good luck

    keep your fingers crossed

15. to promise or pledge, esp by making the sign of a cross over one's heart

16. to occur to one briefly or suddenly

17. to give someone money

18. to meet or thwart someone

19. to argue or fight

adjective

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

Cross ⁴ British  

/ krɒs /

noun

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

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cross Scientific  

/ krôs /

1. A plant or animal produced by crossbreeding; a hybrid.

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1. To crossbreed or cross-fertilize plants or animals.

cross More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing cross

• at cross purposes
• at the crossroads
• caught in the middle (cross-fire)
• dot one's i's and cross one's t's
• double cross
• get one's wires crossed

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Usage

What is a basic definition of cross? Cross as a verb means to begin at one side of something and finish at the opposite side. As an adjective, cross means angry and irritated. As a noun, cross refers to a structure that resembles a lowercase t or any object that has this shape. Cross has a huge number of other senses as a noun, verb, and adjective. When an object or living thing crosses something else, it physically moves from one side to the other, passes from one side to the other, or extends from one side to the other.

• Real-life examples: A chicken crosses (walks across) a road. An airplane crosses (passes over) the Atlantic Ocean. A bridge crosses (extends over) a raging river.
• Used in a sentence: She slowly crossed the rickety bridge. 

As an adjective, cross is used to describe a person who is angry, annoyed, or generally in a bad mood. This sense is often written as “be cross with.”

• Real-life examples: Teachers get cross when students don’t do their homework. A person waiting in line for hours will most likely become cross. Service people are told not to be cross with rude customers and maintain a sense of calm.
• Used in a sentence: She was very cross with her brother after he forgot her birthday. 

The noun sense of cross refers to an object made from a horizontal piece and a vertical piece to form a structure that resembles a lowercase t. This object has a huge historical and religious significance, especially among Christians. A wooden cross was used by the ancient Romans in order to perform a crucifixion, a horrible execution method in which a person was bound or nailed to a cross until they died. Jesus Christ, an extremely important person in Christianity, was famously executed by the Romans by being nailed to a cross. The cross or “the Cross” (meaning the specific one Jesus died on) is a holy symbol to Christians and a cross shape is often used as the symbol of Christianity. Many Christians have crosses in their homes or on their vehicles or wear one on a necklace.

• Real-life examples: Most Christian bibles have a cross on the cover. Most Christian churches have a cross (or many crosses) on or inside the building. Many Christian works of art depict crosses or the crucifixion of Jesus on the Cross.
• Used in a sentence: The priest’s cane had a cross painted on it.

What does cross- mean? Cross- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning variously “transverse; going across something" or "cross," as in a figure or object resembling a cross, a structure or mark comprising two intersecting lines. It is often used in a variety of everyday and technical terms. Cross- ultimately comes from Latin crux, meaning “cross,” which is also the source of words such as crucial and cruciform. Learn more about this word at our entry for crux.

Synonym Usage

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: He gave her a cross reply and walked out of the room. 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: She's acting like a peevish child again. 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: I know I haven't called, but why are you suddenly so sullen and vindictive?

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• crossability
  noun
• crosser
  noun
• crossness
  noun
• recross
  verb
• crossable
  adjective
• uncrossable
  adjective
• crossly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• crosses
  plural

Adjectives

• crosser
  comparative
• crossest
  superlative

Participles

• crossing
  present
• crossed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• cross
  simple
• crosses
  simple
• have crossed
  perfect
• has crossed
  perfect
• am crossing
  progressive
• are crossing
  progressive
• is crossing
  progressive
• have been crossing
  perfect progressive
• has been crossing
  perfect progressive

Past

• crossed
  simple
• had crossed
  perfect
• was crossing
  progressive
• were crossing
  progressive
• had been crossing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will cross
  simple
• will have crossed
  perfect
• will be crossing
  progressive
• will have been crossing
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of cross

First recorded before 1000; Middle English, late Old English cros, from Old Norse kross, from Old Irish cros (from British Celtic ), from Latin crux; see crux

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Explanation

When you cross something, you travel over it — like when you cross the street, after looking both ways and using the crosswalk, of course. A commercial pilot might cross the continent several times a week, and a boy might cross several back yards on his way to school. Another kind of cross is a written mark, an upended X on a piece of paper. There's also the adjective cross, which describes someone who is extremely cranky. The Latin root word crux means "stake or cross," but its figurative meaning, "trouble or misery," is related to to traditional use of wooden crosses to hang criminals.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cross Cross cross- crosses crosser crossest crossed crossing

Cancer patients who wanted to try it would have to go on the black market or cross the border to Mexico, where it was legal.

From Slate ● Nov. 12, 2026

The Wellness Society seems like a cross between a membership group and a marketing agency.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 9, 2026

This allows them to pass through an energy barrier separating the metal tip from the silver surface, even though classical physics predicts they should not have enough energy to cross it.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 7, 2026

In Antigua and Barbuda, at a rally to mark the country's Independence Day, a sudden downpour left the King drenched, without an umbrella and looking momentarily cross.

From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026

First to wish on Anna’s coin at last: May she be warm in her house with the dog, and may the sídhe never cross her doorstep.

From "Nory Ryan’s Song" by Patricia Reilly Giff

More than 200 million people across 60 countries live in areas controlled or contested by armed non-state groups, according to International Committee of the Red Cross estimates.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 9, 2026

But Commanders safety Nick Cross intercepted a pass by Stafford, setting up a tying field goal.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 8, 2026

A group portrait honors Black Red Cross nurses, who had long been excluded from training programs and were recruited during labor shortages toward the end of World War I.

From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026

Prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC said Samir Zitouni showed "sheer courage and bravery in seeking to save lives and defend others", during the mass stabbing on the Doncaster to London King's Cross train.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

The goods leave by the train at 9:30 to-night, and will be due at King’s Cross at 4:30 to-morrow afternoon.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

A note from one of the investment bank’s analysts points out that the Australia-listed developer still has a strong pipeline, as well as the continued opportunity to cross- and up-sell products to existing customers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026

The new norms will enable standardised grip strength test results for cross- and within-country comparisons, to identify trends over time, monitor improvements and evaluate the effectiveness of implemented public health policies.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 6, 2024

Over defense objections, Judge Jeffrey Jahns allowed prosecutors to cross- examine Troyer about a 2015 complaint about a Facebook message Troyer sent to a man who had criticized the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 12, 2022

“These cross- defendants are professionals who owed a duty to those on set, including Baldwin, to keep the set safe,” Baldwin’s attorney’s Luke Nikas wrote in his complaint.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 11, 2022

Sitting cross- legged on the doorstep was an old Chinese man.

From "The Cricket in Times Square" by George Selden

He added that the U.S. military remains ready to confront Iran if it crosses any red lines.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 11, 2026

Unlike the dorsal column pathway, it crosses to the opposite side within the spinal cord itself.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 4, 2026

He only crosses the border into Argentina at 0150 GMT on Wednesday, the neighboring country's immigration authorities announce -- over 12 hours after the first reports emerge that he has left.

From Barron's ● Oct. 28, 2026

UK Government sports minister Stephanie Peacock echoed those comments, adding: "Our £32m will fund the races and a lasting legacy, so the public feel the benefits long after the last rider crosses the line."

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

Theo crosses off the names with no telephone numbers and then chews his pencil.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

He enjoys playing on the front foot and much like Alexander-Arnold, he is an excellent crosser of the ball, adept at delivering into dangerous zones inside the opposition's six-yard box.

From BBC ● Apr. 18, 2025

Today Kim Kardashian is a fashion mogul, prison reform advocate and crosser of picket lines.

From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2023

As a neighbor and frequent crosser of their campus, I deeply appreciate the peaceful beauty that you provide.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 9, 2023

In the 58th minute, they pushed an interception into a counter, got a crosser from Emily Moxley down the right wing, and the Bruins couldn’t keep everyone marked.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 5, 2022

“But if I do, I shall be crosser still. I can never bear to think of you all there without me.”

From "Emma" by Jane Austen

“You’re the crossest person in it!” returned Amy, washing out the sum that was all wrong with the tears that had fallen on her slate.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

And the crossest things I ever did see!

From A Modern Cinderella by Amanda Minnie Douglas

So instinctively chivalrous was he that there was "no service which the ugliest, oldest, crossest woman in the world might not have exacted of him."

From Selections from the Poems and Plays of Robert Browning by Myra Reynolds

“Wall, for my part,” sed Jane Maria Peasley, who is the crossest old made in the world, “I think you all act like a pack of fools.”

From Why Lincoln Laughed by Russell Herman Conwell

I came to you as a punishment, for Polly always said you were the crossest woman she ever met.”

From Polly A New-Fashioned Girl by L. T. Meade

Like marginally better than if you just put a shopping cart behind center and crossed your fingers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 12, 2026

“It never crossed my mind that such people existed on the face of the Earth.”

From Slate ● Nov. 12, 2026

Quarterly sales of ”Magic: The Gathering” crossed $600 million for the first time ever earlier this year.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 11, 2026

He crossed into double-digit scoring with a clutch put-back three-point play with 2:15 remaining to put the Lakers ahead by seven.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 9, 2026

He stopped picking at the tree and crossed his arms over his chest.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Before Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the Black Sea was a busy maritime thoroughfare, with traffic crossing in all directions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 12, 2026

McQueen died within four months of crossing the border.

From Slate ● Nov. 12, 2026

A British woman has gone missing from a cruise ship on a mid-Atlantic crossing, the travel operator Tui has said.

From BBC ● Nov. 12, 2026

That’s why Jeff Sikich, a wildlife biologist with the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, raced to install six cameras on the crossing itself two days ago.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026

I watched him crossing the Barteljorisstraat with his ladder to Kuiper’s candy store.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

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Related Words

• cruise
• cut across
• navigate
• pass over
• ply
• sail
• span
• traverse

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