Cross meaning

What does “cross” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“cross” is a noun, verb and adjective with 16 meanings. Its most common meaning is: a wooden structure consisting of an upright post with a transverse piece.

cross

noun

  1. a wooden structure consisting of an upright post with a transverse piece

  2. a marking that consists of lines that cross each other

  3. a representation of the structure on which Jesus was crucified; used as an emblem of Christianity or in heraldry

  4. any affliction that causes great suffering

    “that is his cross to bear”

    “he bears his afflictions like a crown of thorns”

  5. (genetics) an organism that is the offspring of genetically dissimilar parents or stock; especially offspring produced by breeding plants or animals of different varieties or breeds or species

    “a mule is a cross between a horse and a donkey”

  6. (genetics) the act of mixing different species or varieties of animals or plants and thus to produce hybrids

verb

  1. travel across or pass over

    “The caravan covered almost 100 miles each day”

  2. meet at a point

    Synonymsintersect
  3. hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of

    “What ultimately frustrated every challenger was Ruth's amazing September surge”

    “foil your opponent”

  4. fold so as to resemble a cross

    “she crossed her legs”

    Oppositesuncross
  5. to cover or extend over an area or time period

    “Rivers traverse the valley floor”

    “The parking lot spans 3 acres”

  6. meet and pass

    “the trains crossed”

  7. trace a line through or across

    “cross your `t'”

  8. breed animals or plants using parents of different races and varieties

    “cross a horse and a donkey”

    “Mendel tried crossbreeding”

adjective

  1. extending or lying across; in a crosswise direction; at right angles to the long axis

    “cross members should be all steel”

    “from the transverse hall the stairway ascends gracefully”

  2. annoyed and irritable

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University