Cross

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.
Phrases and idioms:
as 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.
Derivatives:
crossly adv. crossness n.
Etymology: OE cros f. ON kross f. OIr. cros f. L crux cruc-