cruise

¹ American  

[krooz] / kruz /

verb (used without object)

cruised, cruising

1. to sail about on a pleasure trip.

2. to sail about, as a warship patrolling a body of water.

3. to travel about without a particular purpose or destination.

4. to fly, drive, or sail at a constant speed that permits maximum operating efficiency for sustained travel.

5. to travel at a moderately fast, easily controllable speed.

   cruising along the highway enjoying the scenery.

6. to travel about slowly, looking for customers or for something demanding attention.

   Taxis and police cars cruise in the downtown area.

7. to go or travel (often followed byover ).

   Let's cruise over to my house after the concert.

8. Informal. to go about on the streets or in public areas in search of a sexual partner.

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verb (used with object)

cruised, cruising

1. to cruise in (a specified area).

   patrol cars cruising the neighborhood; to cruise the Caribbean.

2. Informal.

   1. to move slowly through or visit (a street, park, bar, etc.) in search of a sexual partner.

   2. to make sexual overtures to; attempt to arouse the sexual interest of.

3. to inspect (a tract of forest) for the purpose of estimating lumber potential.

noun

1. the act of cruising.

2. a pleasure voyage on a ship, usually with stops at various ports.

Cruise ² American  

[krooz] / kruz /

noun

1. Tom Thomas Cruise Mapother, 4th, born 1962, U.S. film actor.

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cruise ¹ British  

/ kruːz /

verb

1. (intr) to make a trip by sea in a liner for pleasure, usually calling at a number of ports

2. to sail or travel over (a body of water) for pleasure in a yacht, cruiser, etc

3. (intr) to search for enemy vessels in a warship

4. (intr) (of a vehicle, aircraft, or vessel) to travel at a moderate and efficient speed

5. informal (intr) to search the streets or other public places for a sexual partner

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noun

1. an act or instance of cruising, esp a trip by sea

Cruise ² British  

/ kruːz /

noun

1. Tom. original name Thomas Cruise Mapother. born 1962, US film actor; his films include Risky Business (1983), Top Gun (1986), Jerry Maguire (1989), Eyes Wide Shut (1999), War of the Worlds (2005), and Valkyrie (2008)

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Other Word Forms

• cruisingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of cruise

1645–55; < Dutch kruisen to cross, cruise, derivative of kruis cross

Example Sentences

It also has significant stockpiles of short-range missiles capable of reaching U.S. bases in the Gulf and ships in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as antiship cruise missiles.

From The Wall Street Journal

By Christmas break, she was ready to hop on a cruise with her husband, where she wore a dress that made her feel “very J. Lo.”

From The Wall Street Journal

I zipped past shipbuilding facilities and refineries, before cruising by grand historic homes watching over the Mississippi Sound.

From The Wall Street Journal

“If you can still put up with me,” I said, “we can cruise the Sunset Strip and Hollywood Boulevard tonight.”

From Los Angeles Times

The selling extended into Asia, where Seoul -- which has cruised more than 20 percent to multiple record highs this year thanks to its strong tech presence -- sank more than two percent.

From Barron's

Related Words

• coast
• drift
• go
• meander
• navigate
• travel