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crown of thorns
cross·wise /'krɒsˌwaɪz||'krɔːs-/ adj, adv crossing something
or each other: logs laid crosswise on the floor
cross·word /'krɒsˌwɜːd||'krɔːsˌwɜːrd/ also 'crossword
,puzzle n a printed game in which words are fitted into a
pattern of numbered squares in answer to numbered CLUES
(=questions or information about the necessary word) in
such a way that words can be read across as well as down
when the pattern is completed: She does The Times cross-
word before breakfast.
CULTURAL NOTE Crosswords are very popular in the US
and the UK and appear in many different newspapers and
magazines. Some crosswords are known for being very
difficult, for example The Times crossword in the UK, and
The New York Times crossword in the US. People who
can finish these crosswords quickly are often considered
to be very clever.
crotch /krɒtʃ||'krɑːtʃ/ n 1 also crutch — a) the place
between the tops of the legs of the human body b) the
place where the legs of a pair of trousers etc join: These jeans
are too tight in the crotch. 2 the place where a branch
separates from a tree
crotch·et /'krɒtʃɪt||'krɑː-/ BrE || quarter note AmE — n a
musical note with a time value a quarter as long as a
SEMIBREVE
crotch·et·y /'krɒtʃɪti||'krɑː-/ adj infml (especially of someone
old) bad-tempered; liking to argue and complain
crouch /kraʊtʃ/ v [(DOWN)] to lower the body closer to the
ground by bending the knees: He crouched down to stroke the
dog. | The cat crouched, ready to spring at the bird. →
compare SQUAT
croup¹ /kruːp/ n [U] med a disease of the throat, especially in
children, that makes breathing difficult and causes coughing
croup² n the fleshy part above the back legs of certain
animals, especially the horse
crou·pi·er /'kruːpiə/ n a person employed to collect and pay
out money at a place where games are played for money, e.g.
a CASINO
crou·ton /'kruːtɒn||-tɑːn/ n [usually pl.] a small square of
bread cooked in fat and served in soup
crow¹ /krəʊ/ n 1 a large shiny black bird with a loud
cry 2 as the crow flies in a straight line: We're two kilome-
tres from town as the crow flies, but nearly five by road. → see
also CROW'S FOOT, CROW'S NEST eat crow (EAT)
crow² v [I] 1 to make the loud high cry of a COCK: It was
dawn, and I could hear a cock crowing somewhere. 2 [(about,
over)] infml derog to express pride openly, especially when
taking pleasure from someone else's misfortune: They were
crowing over their defeated opponents, little knowing that it
would be their turn to lose next time. 3 (especially of a baby)
to make wordless sounds of happiness
crow³ n [S] 1 the loud high cry of a COCK: He gave a
triumphant crow. → see also COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO 2 a
wordless sound of happiness as made by babies
Crow n 1 the Crow [P] a Native American tribe that now
lives in southern Montana 2 [C] a member of this tribe →
see Cultural Note at NATIVE AMERICAN —Crow adj: a Crow
chief
Crow, Jim → see JIM CROW
crow·bar /'krəʊbɑː/ n an iron bar used to raise heavy
objects off the ground, to force open a box etc
crowd¹ /kraʊd/ n 1 [C+sing./pl. v] a large number of people
gathered together: A big crowd soon gathered at the scene of
the accident. | There were crowds of people at the theatre. | a
football crowd 2 [C] infml a particular social group: I don't
spend much time with the college crowd. 3 [C] a large number
of things in disorder: a crowd of books and papers on his
desk 4 [the] people in general, especially when thought of as
easily influenced or lacking original ideas: I do what I like; I
don't go with/follow the crowd. → see also two's company,
three's a crowd (COMPANY)
crowd² v 1 [I+adv/prep] (especially of people) to come
together in large numbers: People crowded round the scene of
the accident. | They all crowded into the cinema. 2 [T] (espe-
cially of people) to fill: Shoppers crowded the streets. | The
beach was crowded with holidaymakers. 3 [T+obj+adv/prep] to
press tightly into a small space: He crowded his large family
into the taxi. 4 [T] infml to push or put pressure on in a
threatening way: Don't crowd her – give her some space. |
They're crowding me with their unreasonable demands.
crowd sbdy./sthg. out phr v to keep out because of lack of
space: The big firms are trying to crowd our small business
out of the market.
crowd·ed /'kraʊdɪd/ adj 1 completely full; filled with
a crowd: a very crowded bus/street 2 uncomfortably
close together: We'll be a bit crowded in that tiny room.
—~ness n [U]
,crowded 'out adj [F] infml, especially BrE very full; PACKED-OUT:
The cinema was crowded out.
'crowd ,surfing n [U] the action of moving across the top of
a large crowd by lying flat and letting people pass you along
above their heads. Crowd surfing is typically done at large
loud music concerts.
Crowe, Russell /krəʊ/ (1964–) a New Zealand film actor,
known especially for films that are full of action. His films
include L.A. Confidential, A Beautiful Mind, and Gladiator, for
which he won an Oscar in 2002. In real life, he is also known
for having a quick temper (=gets angry quickly) and for
getting involved in fights.
crown¹ /kraʊn/ n 1 [C] a decorative covering for the head,
usually made of gold and jewels, worn by a king or queen as
a sign of royal power 2 [C] a) an object in this shape b) a
representation of this shape: a printed crown on an official
envelope c) a piece of metal in this shape for wearing, e.g.
on a uniform, as a mark of office, rank etc d) a sign in this
shape used with numbers, usually from one to five, in a
system to judge standards or quality: The English Tourist
Board gives this hotel three crowns. 3 [the (usually cap.)] the
governing power of a kingdom: land belonging to the
Crown 4 [the] a) the position of king or queen: rival
claimants to the crown b) a CHAMPIONSHIP title: He won the
heavyweight boxing crown in 1985. 5 [C] the top or highest
part of something, e.g. of the head, a hat, or a mountain: the
crown of a hill 6 [C] a) an old British coin worth 25
pence b) any of several units of money in certain European
countries: Swedish/Danish crowns → see also HALF A
CROWN 7 [C] (an artificial covering for) the part of a tooth
above the GUM
crown² v [T] 1 to place a crown solemnly on the head of (a
person) as a sign of royal power or of victory: to crown a
beauty queen [+obj+n] They crowned him king of Portugal. →
see also CORONATION 2 to cover the top of (something):
Mist crowned the mountain. 3 to complete in a way that is
suitable or deserved: Success has crowned her years of
effort. 4 to put a protective covering on (a tooth) 5 slang to
hit (someone) on the head: Be quiet or I'll crown you! 6 to
crown it all to make (your) good or bad fortune complete:
My house burnt down, my car was stolen, and to crown it all I
lost my job. → see also CROWNING
,crown 'colony n (often caps.) a British COLONY ruled by a
governor appointed by the British government
,Crown 'Court n [C;U] a court of law in Britain that deals
with serious criminal cases and is higher than a Magistrates'
Court → compare MAGISTRATES' COURT
,Crown 'Derby n [U] a type of fine PORCELAIN made in the
city of Derby, England in the 18th and 19th centuries
,crowned 'head n a king or queen: All the crowned heads of
Europe were at the funeral.
Crowne Pla·za /,kraʊn 'plɑːzə/ trademark a company that
has hotels in the US, UK, and other countries
crown·ing /'kraʊnɪŋ/ adj of more importance or value than
anything else; above all other things: Her crowning ambition
was to become a famous writer. | the President's crowning
achievement
,crown 'jewels n [P] (often caps.) the crowns, swords, jewels
etc worn by a king or queen on important state occasions.
The British Crown Jewels are kept in the Tower of London.
,crown of 'thorns n (sometimes cap. C and T) a crown of small
sharp pointed THORNS which, according to the Bible, was
placed on Jesus Christ's head when he was crucified (CRU-
CIFY)