krɔs n.,
v., & adj. --n. 1 an
upright post
with a
transverse bar, as used in
antiquity for crucifixion. 2 a (the Cross) in
Christianity,
the cross on
which Christ was crucified. b a
representation of
this as an
emblem of Christianity. c =
sign of the cross. 3 a staff surmounted by a cross
and borne before an
archbishop or in a
religious procession. 4 a a
thing or mark shaped like a cross,
esp. a
figure made by
two short intersecting lines (+ or x). b a
monument in the
form of a cross, esp.
one in the
centre of a
town or on a
tomb. 5 a cross-shaped
decoration indicating rank in
some orders of knighthood or awarded for
personal valour. 6 a an intermixture of
animal breeds or
plant varieties. b an animal or plant resulting
from this. 7 (foll. by between) a
mixture or
compromise of two things. 8 a a
crosswise movement, e.g. of an
actor on
stage. b
Football etc. a pass of the ball
across the
direction of
play. c
Boxing a blow with a crosswise movement of the
fist. 9 a
trial or
affliction;
something to be endured (bear one's crosses). --v. 1 tr. (often foll. by
over;
also absol.) go across or to the
other side of (a road,
river,
sea, etc.). 2 a intr.
intersect or be across one
another (the roads cross
near the bridge). b tr.
cause to do this;
place crosswise (cross one's legs). 3 tr. a
draw a line or lines across. b
Brit. mark (a cheque) with two
parallel lines, and
often an annotation, to
indicate that it must be
paid into a named bank
account. 4 tr. (foll. by
off,
out, through)
cancel or
obliterate or
remove from a list with lines
drawn across. 5 tr. (often refl.)
make the sign of the cross on or over. 6 intr. a pass in
opposite or
different directions. b (of letters
between two correspondents)
each be dispatched before
receipt of the other. c (of
telephone lines)
become wrongly interconnected so that
intrusive calls can be heard. 7 tr. a cause to
interbreed. b
cross-fertilize (plants). 8 tr.
thwart or
frustrate (crossed in love). 9 tr. sl.
cheat. --adj. 1 (often foll. by with)
peevish,
angry. 2 (usu. attrib.) transverse; reaching from side to side. 3 (usu. attrib.) intersecting. 4 (usu. attrib.)
contrary, opposed,
reciprocal. øas cross as two sticks extremely angry or peevish. at cross purposes
misunderstanding or conflicting with one another. cross one's fingers (or
keep one's fingers crossed) 1 put one
finger across another as a sign of hoping for
good luck. 2
trust in good luck. cross the
floor join the opposing side in a debating-assembly. cross one's
heart make a
solemn pledge, esp. by
crossing one's
front. cross one's
mind (of a thought etc.)
occur to one, esp. transiently. cross a person's palm (usu. foll. by with) pay a
person for a
favour. cross the
path of 1 meet with (a person). 2 thwart. cross swords (often foll. by with)
encounter in
opposition;
have an
argument or
dispute. cross wires (or
get one's wires crossed) 1 become wrongly
connected by telephone. 2 have a misunderstanding. on the cross 1 diagonally. 2 sl. fraudulently, dishonestly. øøcrossly adv. crossness n. [OE cros f. ON kross f. OIr. cros f. L
crux cruc-]