cross

A shape or mark made by two lines or bars that meet across each other.

• Draw a cross in this box.
• She wore a silver cross around her neck.
• The map marks the hospital with a red cross.

Common phrases: draw a cross, red cross, cross shape

A tall wooden post with a bar across it, used in the past to kill people.

• The prisoner was tied to a cross.
• Roman soldiers nailed him to a wooden cross.
• The painting shows Jesus carrying his cross.

Similar words: crucifix

Common phrases: wooden cross, on a cross, carry a cross

A Christian hand movement that follows a cross shape over the body.

• She made the cross before praying.
• The priest traced a cross over the child.
• He made a cross with his hand as the procession passed.

Similar words: sign of the cross

Common phrases: make a cross, trace a cross

Feeling angry or annoyed, or showing these feelings.

• Mum looks cross today.
• He was cross with me for losing his keys.
• They exchanged a few cross words before leaving.

How to use it: be cross with someone (Dad was cross with me for being late.); be cross about something (She was cross about the delay.)

Similar words: annoyed, angry, irritated

Common phrases: cross with someone, look cross, cross words

Positioned across the main line or direction of something.

• A cross beam supports the roof.
• They fitted cross bars between the posts.
• Cross benches stood at the ends of the long rows.

Similar words: transverse, crosswise

Opposites: longitudinal

Common phrases: cross beam, cross bar, cross bench

Going in opposite directions between two sides, with each side acting on the other.

• The parties submitted cross demands.
• The lawyers prepared cross interrogatories for the opposing parties.
• The two firms brought cross claims against each other.

Similar words: reciprocal, mutual

Common phrases: cross claims, cross demands, cross interrogatories

Used between two vector names to show a mathematical operation that produces another vector.

• Calculate a cross b.
• The direction of u cross v follows the right-hand rule.
• In this equation, v cross B describes a vector product.

Common phrases: a cross b, v cross b

To move from one side of something to the other.

• Be careful when you cross the road.
• We crossed the river by boat.
• How many countries did you cross on your journey?

Similar words: go across, traverse

Common phrases: cross the road, cross a bridge, cross the border