cross

1 verb

1 GO FROM ONE SIDE TO ANOTHER (I, T) to go or stretch from one side of something such as a road, river, room etc to the other: It took them four weeks to cross the desert. | Look both ways before you cross the road. | The railway line from Leeds to Manchester crosses the Pennines.

2 CROSS A LINE ETC (T) if you cross a line, track etc you go over and beyond it: Two cyclists crossed the finish line together in first place.

3 TWO ROADS/LINES ETC (T) if two or more roads, lines, etc cross, they go across each other: There's a shopping mall near where Ventura Boulevard crosses Sepulveda. | cross sth: Station Avenue crosses East Street about a mile down the road.

4 LEGS/ARMS (T) if you cross your legs or arms, you put one on top of the other: She was sitting on the floor with her legs crossed.

5 cross your fingers used to say that you hope something will happen in the way you want: Cross your fingers that I get the job.

6 cross sb's mind if an idea, thought etc crosses someone's mind, it comes into their mind for a short time: It never crossed my mind to check whether the deal was genuine. | the thought has crossed my mind (=used to tell someone you have thought of the thing they are suggesting)

7 cross sb's face if an expression crosses someone's face, it appears on their face: A look of horror crossed Ken's face when he realized what he had done.

8 cross that bridge when you come to it used to say that you will not think or worry about something until it actually happens: Don't worry about running out of money. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

9 BREED OF PLANT/ANIMAL (T) to mix two or more different breeds of animal or plant to form a new breed: This flower has been produced by crossing several different varieties.

(+ with): If you cross a horse with a donkey, you get a mule. -see also: cross 2 (3), crossbreed 1

10 cross my heart (and hope to die) spoken informal used to say that you promise that you will do something or that what you are saying is true: I didn't take it, cross my heart!

11 sb's paths cross if two people's paths cross they meet, usually unexpectedly: I know Irving quite well - our paths first crossed when we were at Yale.

12 MAKE SB ANGRY (T) to make someone angry by opposing their plans or orders: Anyone who dares to cross me will find themselves in serious trouble.

13 SPORT (I, T) to kick, throw, or hit the ball across the playing area in a sport such as football, hockey etc

14 CHEQUE (T) BrE to draw two lines across a cheque to show that it must be paid into a bank account

15 cross swords (with) to argue with someone: He has crossed swords with the District Attorney several times.

16 cross yourself to move your hand across your upper body in the shape of a cross, especially as a sign of the Roman Catholic faith

17 cross sb's palm with silver especially BrE to give money to someone

-see also: dot the i's and cross the t's dot 2 (4), keep your fingers crossed finger 1 (3), cross the Rubicon Rubicon cross sth off phrasal verb (I, T) to draw a line through one or more things on a list because you have dealt with them or they are not needed any more: As you do each job, cross it off the list. cross sth out phrasal verb (T) to draw a line or lines through something you have written or drawn, usually because it is wrong cross over phrasal verb (I)

1 if an entertainer crosses over from one area of entertainment to another, they become successful in the second one as well as the first

2 BrE old use to die

2 noun (C)

1 CHRISTIAN SIGN

a) an upright post of wood with another crossing it, that people were nailed to and left to die on as a punishment in the past: Christians believe that Jesus Christ died on a cross.

b) an object or picture in the shape of a cross used as a sign of the Christian faith or for decoration: Pauline wore a tiny gold cross around her neck. | the Cross (=cross that Christ died on, used as a sign of Christian faith)

2 A AMRK ON PAPER especially BrE

a) a mark (x or +) used on paper, to represent where something is, or where something should be: I've put a cross on the map to mark where our house is. | Please sign your name by the cross, to give your consent.

b) a mark (x) used on paper to show that something that has been written or printed is not correct: There were more crosses than ticks on Mark's French homework.

c) a mark (x or +) used by someone who cannot write to write their name

3 a mixture of two things, breeds, or qualities: Their dog is a Jack Russell cross.

(+ between): He seems to think his girlfriend is a cross between Naomi Campbell and Tina Turner.

4 MILITARY AWARD a decoration in the shape of a cross worn as an honour, especially for military bravery: He was awarded the George Cross.

5 SPORT

a) a kick or hit of the ball in a sport such as football, hockey etc that goes across the field

b) a way of hitting someone in the sport of boxing in which your arm goes over theirs as they try to hit you

6 a (heavy) cross to bear a problem that makes you very unhappy or worried, often one that continues for a long time: His mother's illness has been a very heavy cross to bear.

-see also: the sign of the cross sign 1 (10) 3 adjective especially BrE angry or annoyed: get cross: Charlotte, Mummy will get very cross if you do it again. | get/be cross with sb: Alright you two, don't get cross with each other! -see also: crosswind