cross

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Contents

English [edit]

Etymology [edit]

From Middle English cross, cros, from Old English cros (“rood, cross”), of North Germanic origin, from Old Norse kross (“cross”), perhaps from Old Irish cros (compare Welsh croes, Gaelic crois), from Latin crux. Cognate with Icelandic kross (“cross”), Danish kors (“cross”), Swedish kors (“cross”). Displaced native Middle English rood (“rood, cross”), from Old English rōd (“cross, rood, crucifix, pole”); see rood.

Pronunciation [edit]

Noun [edit]

cross (plural crosses)

The cross on a Rubik's Cube
  1. A geometrical figure consisting of two straight lines or bars intersecting each other such that at least one of them is bisected by the other.
    Put a cross for a wrong answer and a tick for a right one.
  2. (heraldry) Any geometric figure having this or a similar shape, such as a cross of Lorraine or a Maltese cross.
  3. A wooden post with a perpendicular beam attached and used (especially in the Roman Empire) to execute criminals (by crucifixion).
    Criminals were commonly executed on a wooden cross.
  4. (usually with the) The cross on which Christ was crucified.
  5. A hand gesture made by Catholics in imitation of the shape of the Cross.
    She made the cross after swearing.
  6. (Christianity) A modified representation of the crucifixion stake, worn as jewellery or displayed as a symbol of religious devotion.
    She was wearing a cross on her necklace.
  7. (figurative, from Christ's bearing of the cross) A difficult situation that must be endured.
    It's a cross I must bear.
  8. The act of going across; the act of passing from one side to the other
    A quick cross of the road.
  9. (biology) Animal or plant produced by crossbreeding or cross-fertilization.
  10. (boxing) A hook thrown over the opponent's punch.
  11. (soccer) A pass in which the ball travels from by one touchline across the pitch.
    • 2010 December 29, Chris Whyatt, “Chelsea 1 - 0 Bolton”, BBC:
      And Stamford Bridge erupted with joy as Florent Malouda slotted in a cross from Drogba, who had stayed just onside.
  12. A place where roads intersect and lead off in four directions; a crossroad (common in UK and Irish place names such as Gerrards Cross).
  13. A monument that marks such a place. (Also common in UK or Irish place names such as Charing Cross)
  14. (Rubik's Cube) Four edge cubies of one side that are in their right places, forming the shape of a cross.

Synonyms [edit]

  • (production of cross-breeding or -fertilization): hybrid
  • (cross on which Christ was crucified): True Cross

Derived terms [edit]

Terms derived from the noun "cross"

Related terms [edit]

Translations [edit]

geometrical figure
in heraldry
wooden post with a perpendicular beam, used for crucifixion
definite: the cross on which Christ was crucified
gesture made by Christians
figuratively: difficult situation
biology: animal or plant produced by crossbreeding or cross-fertilization
football kick
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.

Adjective [edit]

cross (comparative crosser, superlative crossest)

  1. Transverse; lying across the main direction.
    At the end of each row were cross benches which linked the rows.
  2. (archaic) Opposite, opposed to.
    His actions were perversely cross to his own happiness.
  3. (now rare) Opposing, adverse; being contrary to what one would hope or wish for.
    • 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, New York Review of Books, 2001, p. 50:
      As a fat body is more subject to diseases, so are rich men to absurdities and fooleries, to many casualties and cross inconveniences.
  4. Bad-tempered, angry, annoyed.
    She was rather cross about missing her train on the first day of the job.

Synonyms [edit]

Derived terms [edit]

Terms derived from the adjective "cross"

Translations [edit]

Transverse; lying across the main direction
opposite, opposed to
angry, annoyed

Preposition [edit]

cross

  1. (archaic) across
    She walked cross the mountains.
    • L'Estrange
      A fox was taking a walk one night cross a village.
  2. cross product of the previous vector and the following vector.
    The Lorentz force is q times v cross B.

Related terms [edit]

Translations [edit]

cross product of

Verb [edit]

cross (third-person singular simple present crosses, present participle crossing, simple past and past participle crossed)

  1. To mark with an X.
    Cross the box which applies to you.
  2. (transitive) To go from one side of (something) to the other.
    Why did the chicken cross the road?
    You need to cross the street at the lights.
    • 2012 June 19, Phil McNulty, “England 1-0 Ukraine”, BBC Sport:
      Ukraine, however, will complain long and hard about a contentious second-half incident when Marko Devic's shot clearly crossed the line before it was scrambled away by John Terry, only for the officials to remain unmoved.
  3. (intransitive) To travel in a direction or path that will intersect with that of another.
    Ships crossing from starboard have right-of-way.
  4. (transitive) To contradict (another) or frustrate the plans of.
    "You'll rue the day you tried to cross me, Tom Hero!" bellowed the villain.
  5. (reflexive to cross oneself) To make the sign of the cross over oneself.
  6. (cricket, reciprocally) Of both batsmen, to pass each other when running between the wickets in order to score runs.
  7. (biology) to cross-fertilize or crossbreed.
    They managed to cross a sheep with a goat.
  8. (law) to conduct a cross examination; to question a hostile witness
  9. (soccer) To pass the ball from one side of the pitch to the other side.
    He crossed the ball into the penalty area.
  10. (rugby) To score a try.
    • 2011 February 12, Mark Orlovac, “England 59-13 Italy”, BBC:
      England cut loose at the end of the half, Ashton, Mark Cueto and Mike Tindall all crossing before the break.

Synonyms [edit]

Derived terms [edit]

Terms derived from the verb "cross"

Translations [edit]

mark with an X
go from one side of something to the other
travel in a direction or path that will intersect with that another
contradict or frustrate the plans of
make the sign of the cross over oneself
in cricket
biology: to cross-fertilize or crossbreed

French [edit]

Etymology [edit]

From English

Noun [edit]

cross m (usually uncountable)

  1. cross-country (sport)

Italian [edit]

Etymology [edit]

From English

Noun [edit]

cross m (invariable)

  1. motocross
  2. cross (boxing punch, tennis shot)
  3. slice (golf shot)

Derived terms [edit]

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