I. ˈkrȯs noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English, from Old Norse or Old Irish; Old Norse kross, from Old Irish cros, from Latin cruc-, crux
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : a structure consisting of an upright with a transverse beam used especially by the ancient Romans for execution
b. often capitalized : the cross on which Jesus was crucified
2.
a. : crucifixion
b. : an affliction that tries one's virtue, steadfastness, or patience
3. : a cruciform sign made to invoke the blessing of Christ especially by touching the forehead, breast, and shoulders
4.
a. : a device composed of an upright bar traversed by a horizontal one ; specifically : one used as a Christian symbol
b. capitalized : the Christian religion
5. : a structure (as a monument) shaped like or surmounted by a cross
6. : a figure or mark formed by two intersecting lines crossing at their midpoints ; specifically : such a mark used as a signature
7. : a cruciform badge, emblem, or decoration
8. : the intersection of two ways or lines : crossing
9. : annoyance , thwarting
a cross in love
10.
a. : an act of crossing dissimilar individuals
b. : a crossbred individual or kind
c. : one that combines characteristics of two different types or individuals
11.
a. : a fraudulent or dishonest contest
b. : dishonest or illegal practices — used especially in the phrase on the cross
12. : a movement from one part of a theater stage to another
13.
a. : a punch thrown over the opponent's lead in boxing
b. : an attacking pass in soccer played across the field from one side to the other or to the middle
14. : a security transaction in which a broker acts for both buyer and seller (as in the placing of a large lot of common stock) — called also cross-trade
[
cross 4a: 1 Latin, 2 Calvary, 3 patriarchal or cross of Lorraine, 4 papal, 5 cross of Lorraine, 6 Greek, 7 Celtic, 8 Maltese, 9 Saint Andrew's, 10 tau, 11 pommée, 12 botonée, 13 fleury, 14 avellan, 15 moline, 16 formée, 17 fourchée, 18 crosslet, 19 quadrate, 20 potent
]
II. verb
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1.
a. : to lie or be situated across
b. : intersect
2. : to make the sign of the cross upon or over
3. : to cancel by marking a cross on or drawing a line through : strike out
cross names off a list
4. : to place or fold crosswise one over the other
cross the arms
5.
a.
(1) : to run counter to : oppose
(2) : to deny the validity of : contradict
b. : to confront in a troublesome manner : obstruct
c.
(1) : to spoil completely : disrupt — used with up
his failure to appear cross ed up the whole program
(2) : to turn against : betray
cross ed me up on the deal
6.
a. : to extend across or over : traverse
a highway cross ing the entire state
b. : reach , attain
only two cross ed the finish line
c. : to go from one side of to the other
cross a street
cross es racial barriers
7.
a. : to draw a line across
b. : to mark or figure with lines : streak
8. : to cause (an animal or plant) to interbreed with one of a different kind : hybridize
9. : to meet and pass on the way
our letters must have cross ed each other
10. : to occur to
it never cross ed my mind
11. : to carry or take across something
cross ed the children at the intersection
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to move, pass, or extend across something
cross ed through France
cross ed over to the other side of the river
b. : to move or pass from one character, condition, or allegiance to another — used with over
cross ing over to vote for another party's candidate
a musician who has cross ed over from country to pop
2. : to lie or be athwart each other
3. : to meet in passing especially from opposite directions
4. : interbreed , hybridize
• cross·er noun
•
- cross paths
- cross swords
III. adjective
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : lying across or athwart
b. : moving across
cross traffic
2.
a. : running counter : opposite
b. : mutually opposed
cross purposes
3. : involving mutual interchange : reciprocal
4. : marked by typically transitory bad temper
5. : extending over or treating several groups, conditions, or classes
a cross sample from 25 colleges
6. : crossbred , hybrid
• cross·ly adverb
• cross·ness noun
IV. preposition
Date: 1551
: across
V. adverb
Date: 1577
: not parallel : crisscross , crosswise