| characterized by or involving intrusion |
| coolly unconcerned, indifferent, or unexcited; casual |
cross (krɒs) ![]() | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a structure or symbol consisting essentially of two intersecting lines or pieces at right angles to one another |
| 2. | 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 |
| 3. | a representation of the Cross used as an emblem of Christianity or as a reminder of Christ's death |
| 4. | any mark or shape consisting of two intersecting lines, esp such a symbol (×) used as a signature, point of intersection, error mark, etc |
| 5. | 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 |
| 6. | any conventional variation of the Christian symbol, used emblematically, decoratively, or heraldically, such as a Maltese, tau, or Greek cross |
| 7. | heraldry any of several charges in which one line crosses or joins another at right angles |
| 8. | a cruciform emblem awarded to indicate membership of an order or as a decoration for distinguished service |
| 9. | (sometimes capital) Christianity or Christendom, esp as contrasted with non-Christian religions: Cross and Crescent |
| 10. | the place in a town or village where a cross has been set up |
| 11. | a pipe fitting, in the form of a cross, for connecting four pipes |
| 12. | biology |
| a. the process of crossing; hybridization | |
| b. an individual produced as a result of this process | |
| 13. | a mixture of two qualities or types: he's a cross between a dictator and a saint |
| 14. | an opposition, hindrance, or misfortune; affliction (esp in the phrase bear one's cross) |
| 15. | slang a match or game in which the outcome has been rigged |
| 16. | slang a fraud or swindle |
| 17. | boxing a straight punch delivered from the side, esp with the right hand |
| 18. | football the act or an instance of kicking or passing the ball from a wing to the middle of the field |
| 19. | on the cross |
| a. diagonally | |
| b. slang dishonestly | |
| —vb | |
| 20. | ( |
| 21. | a. to meet and pass: the two trains crossed |
| b. (of each of two letters in the post) to be dispatched before receipt of the other | |
| 22. | (tr; |
| 23. | (tr) to place or put in a form resembling a cross: to cross one's legs |
| 24. | (tr) to mark with a cross or crosses |
| 25. | (Brit) (tr) to draw two parallel lines across the face of (a cheque) and so make it payable only into a bank account |
| 26. | (tr) |
| a. to trace the form of the Cross, usually with the thumb or index finger upon (someone or something) in token of blessing | |
| b. to make the sign of the Cross upon (oneself) | |
| 27. | (intr) (of telephone lines) to interfere with each other so that three or perhaps four callers are connected together at one time |
| 28. | to cause fertilization between (plants or animals of different breeds, races, varieties, etc) |
| 29. | (tr) to oppose the wishes or plans of; thwart: his opponent crosses him at every turn |
| 30. | football to kick or pass (the ball) from a wing to the middle of the field |
| 31. | (tr) nautical to set (the yard of a square sail) athwartships |
| 32. | cross a bridge when one comes to it to deal with matters, problems, etc, as they arise; not to anticipate difficulties |
| 33. | cross one's fingers to fold one finger across another in the hope of bringing good luck: keep your fingers crossed |
| 34. | cross one's heart to promise or pledge, esp by making the sign of a cross over one's heart |
| 35. | cross one's mind to occur to one briefly or suddenly |
| 36. | cross someone's palm to give someone money |
| 37. | cross someone's path to meet or thwart someone |
| 38. | cross swords to argue or fight |
| —adj | |
| 39. | angry; ill-humoured; vexed |
| 40. | lying or placed across; transverse: a cross timber |
| 41. | involving interchange; reciprocal |
| 42. | contrary or unfavourable |
| 43. | another word for crossbred |
| 44. | a Brit slang word for dishonest |
| [Old English cros, from Old Irish cross (unattested), from Latin crux; see | |
| 'crosser | |
| —n | |
| 'crossly | |
| —adv | |
| 'crossness | |
| —n | |
| cross- | |
| —combining form | |
| 1. | indicating action from one individual, group, etc, to another: cross-cultural; cross-fertilize; cross-refer |
| 2. | indicating movement, position, etc, across something (sometimes implying interference, opposition, or contrary action): crosscurrent; crosstalk |
| 3. | indicating a crosslike figure or intersection: crossbones |
| [from | |
| cross (krôs) Pronunciation Key
Noun A plant or animal produced by crossbreeding; a hybrid. Verb To crossbreed or cross-fertilize plants or animals. |
cross (so) (up) definitionand cross up (so )
|
in the New Testament the instrument of crucifixion, and hence used for the crucifixion of Christ itself (Eph. 2:16; Heb. 12:2; 1 Cor. 1:17, 18; Gal. 5:11; 6:12, 14; Phil. 3:18). The word is also used to denote any severe affliction or trial (Matt. 10:38; 16:24; Mark 8:34; 10:21). The forms in which the cross is represented are these: 1. The crux simplex (I), a "single piece without transom." 2. The crux decussata (X), or St. Andrew's cross. 3. The crux commissa (T), or St. Anthony's cross. 4. The crux immissa (t), or Latin cross, which was the kind of cross on which our Saviour died. Above our Lord's head, on the projecting beam, was placed the "title." (See CRUCIFIXION.) After the conversion, so-called, of Constantine the Great (B.C. 313), the cross first came into use as an emblem of Christianity. He pretended at a critical moment that he saw a flaming cross in the heavens bearing the inscription, "In hoc signo vinces", i.e., By this sign thou shalt conquer, and that on the following night Christ himself appeared and ordered him to take for his standard the sign of this cross. In this form a new standard, called the Labarum, was accordingly made, and borne by the Roman armies. It remained the standard of the Roman army till the downfall of the Western empire. It bore the embroidered monogram of Christ, i.e., the first two Greek letters of his name, X and P (chi and rho), with the Alpha and Omega. (See A.)
cross
In addition to the idioms beginning with cross, 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.