noun
- a word, line, etc., that has been crossed out.
noun
- a structure consisting essentially of an upright and a transverse piece, used to execute persons in ancient times.
- any object, figure, or mark resembling a cross, as two intersecting lines.
- a mark resembling a cross, usually an X, made instead of a signature by a person unable to write.
- the Cross, the cross upon which Jesus died.
- a figure of the Cross as a Christian emblem, badge, etc.
- the Cross as the symbol of Christianity.
- a small cross with a human figure attached to it, as a representation of Jesus crucified; crucifix.
- 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.
- a structure or monument in the form of a cross, set up for prayer, as a memorial, etc.
- 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.
- the crucifixion of Jesus as the culmination of His redemptive mission.
- any suffering endured for Jesus’ sake.
- the teaching of redemption gained by Jesus’ death.
- the Christian religion, or those who accept it; Christianity; Christendom.
- an opposition; thwarting; frustration.
- any misfortune; trouble.
- a crossing of animals or plants; a mixing of breeds.
- an animal, plant, breed, etc., produced by crossing; crossbreed.
- a person or thing that is intermediate in character between two others.
- Boxing. a punch thrown across and over the lead of an opponent.
- 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.”
- a crossing.
- a place of crossing.
- Plumbing. a four-way joint or connection.
- Theater. an actor’s movement from one area of a stage to another.
- Also called cross-trade. Stock Exchange. an arrangement for the simultaneous sale and purchase of a block of stock handled by a single broker.
- Machinery. spider(def 6b).
- (initial capital letter) Astronomy. Southern Cross.
verb (used with object)
- to move, pass, or extend from one side to the other side of (a street, river, etc.).
- to put or draw (a line, lines, etc.) across.
- to cancel by marking with a cross or with a line or lines (often followed by off or out).
- to mark with a cross.
- to lie or pass across; intersect.
- to meet and pass.
- to transport across something.
- to assist or guide (a person) across a street or intersection: The guard crossed the child at the traffic light.
- to place in the form of a cross or crosswise.
- Biology. to cause (members of different genera, species, breeds, varieties, or the like) to interbreed.
- to oppose openly; thwart; frustrate.
- Slang. to betray; double-cross.
- to make the sign of a cross upon or over, as in devotion: to cross oneself.
- Nautical. to set (a yard) in proper position on a mast.
- Obsolete. to confront in a hostile manner.
verb (used without object)
- to lie or be athwart; intersect.
- to move, pass, or extend from one side or place to another: Cross at the intersection.
- to meet and pass.
- to interbreed.
- Theater. to move from one side of the stage to the other, especially by passing downstage of another actor.
adjective, cross·er, cross·est.
- angry and annoyed; ill-humored; snappish: Don’t be cross with me.
- lying or passing crosswise or across each other; athwart; transverse: cross timbers.
- involving a reciprocal action, interchange, or the like: a cross-endorsement of political candidates; cross-marketing of related services.
- contrary; opposite: They were at cross purposes with each other.
- adverse; unfavorable.
- crossbred; hybrid.
Verb Phrases
- cross over,
- Biology.(of a chromosome segment) to undergo crossing over.
- to switch allegiance, as from one political party to another.
- to change successfully from one field of endeavor, genre, etc., to another: to cross over from jazz to rock.
- to die; pass away.
Also cross over to the other side.
- cross up,
- to change arrangements made with; deceive: He crossed me up after we had agreed to tell the police the same story.
- to confuse: I was supposed to meet him at the station, but got crossed up.
- bear one’s cross, to accept trials or troubles patiently.
- cross one’s heart. heart(def 24).
- cross one’s mind. mind(def 37).
- cross one’s path. path(def 7).
- 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 the line, line1(def 68).
- on the cross, Older Slang. in a dishonest manner; illegally: Her elegant clothes and those two splendid rings had been acquired on the cross.
- take the cross, to make the vows of a crusader.
noun the Cross
- the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified
- the Crucifixion of Jesus
noun
- 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
noun
- a structure or symbol consisting essentially of two intersecting lines or pieces at right angles to one another
- 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
- a representation of the Cross used as an emblem of Christianity or as a reminder of Christ’s death
- any mark or shape consisting of two intersecting lines, esp such a symbol (×) used as a signature, point of intersection, error mark, etc
- 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
- any conventional variation of the Christian symbol, used emblematically, decoratively, or heraldically, such as a Maltese, tau, or Greek cross
- heraldry any of several charges in which one line crosses or joins another at right angles
- a cruciform emblem awarded to indicate membership of an order or as a decoration for distinguished service
- (sometimes capital) Christianity or Christendom, esp as contrasted with non-Christian religionsCross and Crescent
- the place in a town or village where a cross has been set up
- a pipe fitting, in the form of a cross, for connecting four pipes
- biology
- the process of crossing; hybridization
- an individual produced as a result of this process
- a mixture of two qualities or typeshe’s a cross between a dictator and a saint
- an opposition, hindrance, or misfortune; affliction (esp in the phrase bear one’s cross)
- slang a match or game in which the outcome has been rigged
- slang a fraud or swindle
- boxing a straight punch delivered from the side, esp with the right hand
- football the act or an instance of kicking or passing the ball from a wing to the middle of the field
- on the cross
- diagonally
- slangdishonestly
verb
- (sometimes foll by over) to move or go across (something); traverse or intersectwe crossed the road
-
- to meet and passthe two trains crossed
- (of each of two letters in the post) to be dispatched before receipt of the other
- (tr; usually foll by out, off, or through) to cancel with a cross or with lines; delete
- (tr) to place or put in a form resembling a crossto cross one’s legs
- (tr) to mark with a cross or crosses
- (tr) British to draw two parallel lines across the face of (a cheque) and so make it payable only into a bank account
- (tr)
- to trace the form of the Cross, usually with the thumb or index finger upon (someone or something) in token of blessing
- to make the sign of the Cross upon (oneself)
- (intr) (of telephone lines) to interfere with each other so that three or perhaps four callers are connected together at one time
- to cause fertilization between (plants or animals of different breeds, races, varieties, etc)
- (tr) to oppose the wishes or plans of; thwarthis opponent crosses him at every turn
- football to kick or pass (the ball) from a wing to the middle of the field
- (tr) nautical to set (the yard of a square sail) athwartships
- cross a bridge when one comes to it to deal with matters, problems, etc, as they arise; not to anticipate difficulties
- cross one’s fingers to fold one finger across another in the hope of bringing good luckkeep your fingers crossed
- cross one’s heart to promise or pledge, esp by making the sign of a cross over one’s heart
- cross one’s mind to occur to one briefly or suddenly
- cross someone’s palm to give someone money
- cross someone’s path to meet or thwart someone
- cross swords to argue or fight
adjective
- angry; ill-humoured; vexed
- lying or placed across; transversea cross timber
- involving interchange; reciprocal
- contrary or unfavourable
- another word for crossbred (def. 1)
- a Brit slang word for dishonest
“ill-tempered,” 1630s, probably from 16c. sense of “contrary, athwart,” especially with reference to winds and sailing ships, from cross (n.). Cross-purposes “contradictory intentions” is from 1660s.
Old English cros (mid-10c.), from Old Irish cros, probably via Scandinavian, from Latin crux (accusative crucem, genitive crucis) “stake, cross” on which criminals were impaled or hanged, hence, figuratively, “torture, trouble, misery;” originally a tall, round pole; possibly of Phoenician origin. Replaced Old English rood. Also from Latin crux are Italian croce, French croix, Spanish and Portuguese cruz, Dutch kruis, German Kreuz.
c.1200, “make the sign of a cross,” from cross (n.). Sense of “to go across” is from c.1400; that of “to cancel by drawing lines over” is from mid-15c. Related: Crossed; crossing.
Noun
- A plant or animal produced by crossbreeding; a hybrid.
Verb
- To crossbreed or cross-fertilize plants or animals.
In addition to the idioms beginning with cross
- cross a bridge when one comes to it
- cross as a bear
- cross my heart and hope to die
- cross one’s fingers
- cross one’s mind
- cross over
- cross someone’s palm with silver
- cross someone’s path
- cross swords
- cross the Rubicon
- cross to bear
- cross up
also see:
- 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