I. cruise 1 /kruːz/ BrE AmE verb
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Language: Dutch ; Origin: kruisen 'to make a cross, cruise' , from Middle Dutch cruce 'cross' , from Latin crux ; ⇨ ↑ cross 2 ]
1 . [intransitive and transitive] to sail along slowly, especially for pleasure:
We were cruising in the Caribbean all winter.
an evening spent cruising the River Seine
2 . [intransitive usually + adverb/preposition] to move at a steady speed in a car, aircraft etc:
We were cruising along at 50 miles per hour.
We fly at a cruising speed of 500 mph.
3 . [intransitive and transitive] to drive a car slowly through a place with no particular purpose:
They cruised up and down the coast road.
4 . [intransitive] informal to do something well or successfully, without too much effort
cruise to
The horse cruised to a three-length win.
5 . [intransitive and transitive] informal to go to a bar or other public place, looking for a sexual partner:
We went cruising the singles bars.
II. cruise 2 BrE AmE noun [countable]
1 . a holiday on a large ship:
a Mediterranean cruise
cruise around
a cruise around the world
2 . a journey by boat for pleasure
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ go on a cruise
What about going on a cruise down the Nile?
▪ take a cruise
We thought about taking a ten-day cruise in the Caribbean.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + cruise
▪ a luxury cruise
He went on a luxury cruise to Alaska.
▪ a Mediterranean/Caribbean etc cruise
a 15-night Mediterranean cruise
▪ a world cruise (=around the world)
How much would a world cruise cost?
■ cruise + NOUN
▪ a cruise ship/liner
a luxury cruise ship
▪ a cruise line/operator (=company that provides cruises)