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cross sbdy./sthg. off (sthg.) phr v [T] to remove (from) by drawing a line through: If you can't come, cross your name off (the list).
cross sthg. ↔ out phr v [T] to draw a line through (writing): Cross that out and write it again.
cross over phr v [I;T(to)] 1 BrE euph to die 2 AmE (of an entertainer) to find success in a field other than the one that you have established your fame in: She crossed over (to the pop charts) with her latest hit single. → see also CROSSOVER
cross³ adj [(with)] angry; bad-tempered: Dad was really cross with me when I broke the window. —ly adv —ness n [U]
cross- → see WORD FORMATION TABLE
cross-bar /'krɒsbɑːr||'krɒːs-/ n 1 a bar joining two upright posts, especially two GOALPOSTS: They've hit the crossbar (=nearly got a GOAL) several times. 2 the bar between the seat and the HANDLEBARS on a bicycle → see picture at BICYCLE
cross-bench·es /'krɒsˌbentʃɪz||'krɒːs-/ n [P] seats in both houses of the British parliament for members who do not belong to the official government or opposition parties —er n
crossbones n → see SKULL AND CROSSBONES
'cross- border adj [A] relating to activity across a border between two countries: cross-border trade/business etc | cross-border attack/raid
cross-bow /'krɒsbəʊ||'krɒːs-/ n a powerful weapon combining a BOW and a gun, used especially in former times: to fire a crossbow bolt
cross-breed¹ /'krɒsbriːd||'krɒːs-/ v [I;T] a) to cause (an animal or plant) to breed with one of another breed b) (of an animal or plant) to breed with one of another breed → compare INTERBREED —bred /bred/ adj: crossbred sheep
crossbreed² n an animal or plant which is a mixture of breeds → compare INTERBREED
,cross-'Channel adj travelling across the English Channel: There are several cross-Channel ferries from Dover every day.
cross-check /ˌkrɒs'tʃek||ˌkrɒːs-/ v [T] to make certain of the correctness of (a calculation, statement etc), for example by using a different method of calculation —cross-check n
,cross-'country¹ adj, adv across the fields or open country: cross-country skiing/running
cross-country² n [C;U] a race run not on a track but across open country and fields
,cross-'cultural adj belonging to or involving different CULTURES or comparison between them: cross-cultural event/studies
cross·cur·rent /'krɒsˌkʌrənt||'krɒːsˌkɜːr-/ n a current in the sea, a river etc moving across the general direction of the main current
,cross-'dressing n [U] the practice of wearing the clothes of the opposite sex, especially for sexual pleasure —er n
crossed /krɒst||krɒːst/ adj (of a telephone line) connected by mistake to two or more telephones
,crossed 'cheque n BrE (in Britain) a cheque which has two lines across it, showing that it must be paid into a bank account
,cross-ex'am·ine also cross-question v [T] to question (especially a witness) very closely, usually in order to compare the answers with other answers given before —ination n [C;U] —iner n
,cross-'eyed /ɪl'../ adj having the eyes looking in towards the nose
,cross-'fertilize also -lise BrE — v [T] 1 to FERTILIZE by adding male sex cells from one plant to female sex cells from another 2 [often pass.] to influence with ideas from different areas: Europe has been cross-fertilized by contact with many other societies. —lization n [U]
cross-fire /'krɒsfʌɪə||'krɒːs-/ n [U] one or more lines of gunfire firing across a particular point: When the terrorists fought the police, several onlookers were caught in the cross-fire.
,cross-'grained adj 1 (of wood) having the GRAIN running across rather than along it 2 infml difficult to please; ARGUMENTATIVE
'cross- hatching n [U] lines drawn across part of a picture to show that something is made of different material or to produce the effect of shade
cross·ing /'krɒsɪŋ||'krɒː-/ n 1 a place at which a road, river, border etc can be crossed → see also LEVEL CROSSING, PEDESTRIAN CROSSING 2 a place where two lines, tracks etc cross 3 a journey across the sea: Did you have a rough crossing?
cross-legged /ˌkrɒs 'legɪd || ˌkrɒːs 'legd/ adj, adv having the knees wide apart and ankles crossed: He was sitting cross-legged on the floor.
cross·o·ver /'krɒsəvə||'krɒːs-/ n an act or occasion of an entertainer who is popular in one field finding successes in another: a crossover from television to movies | a crossover hit/artist → see also CROSS OVER
'crossover ,primary n AmE an OPEN PRIMARY
cross-patch /'krɒspætʃ||'krɒːs-/ n humor slang a bad-tempered person
cross-piece /'krɒspiːs||'krɒːs-/ n a piece of anything lying across something else
cross·ply /'krɒsplaɪ||'krɒːs-/ adj (of a motor tyre) made stronger by cords pulled tightly across each other inside the rubber → compare RADIAL —crossply n
,cross-'purposes n at cross-purposes (of two people) misunderstanding each other, actually talking about different things, but believing they are talking about the same thing: It was several minutes before we realized we were talking at cross-purposes.
,cross-'question v [T] to CROSS-EXAMINE —ner n
,cross-re'fer v [I;T(from, to)] to direct (the reader) from one place in a book to another place in the same book: In this dictionary, capital letters are used to cross-refer (you) from one word to another.
,cross-'reference /ɪl'.../ n a note directing the reader from one place in a book to another place in the same book: In this dictionary, cross-references are shown in capital letters.
cross·roads /'krɒsrəʊdz||'krɒːs-/ n pl. crossroads 1 a place where two or more roads cross 2 a point at which an important decision must be taken: It was a crossroads in my life. | a crossroads decision
Crossroads a British television SOAP OPERA which began in 1964 and ran for 23 years. It was very popular with the public although the acting and the plots were often criticized by newspaper television critics.
'cross-section n 1 (a drawing of) a surface made by cutting across something at right angles to its length: a cross-section of a worm/of a plant stem 2 a part or group that is typical or representative of the whole: The researchers interviewed a cross-section of the American public.
'cross-stitch n [C;U] (decorative sewing which uses) a stitch like an X made by crossing one stitch over another
'cross street n AmE a street that crosses another street. This word is used especially when giving directions: I live on Vanowen Blvd, and the nearest cross streets are Lindley and Etiwanda.
'cross talk n [U] 1 BrE rapid exchange of clever remarks, especially between two actors 2 interruption of a radio or telephone conversation by unwanted signals from elsewhere
,cross-'trainers n [C;P] a type of shoe that can be worn for playing different types of sports
,cross-'training n [U] 1 an exercise programme that includes many different kinds of exercise, so that all of your muscles are used: Cross-training helps you add variety to your workouts. 2 training at work, that involves people in a company learning about each other's jobs, so that they understand each other better and work together better as a team: Cross-training is a vital part of job rotation. —cross-train v [I]
cross·tree /'krɒs-triː||'krɒːs-/ n tech either of two beams fastened across the top of a ship's MAST
cross-walk /'krɒswɒːk||'krɒːs-/ n AmE for PEDESTRIAN CROSSING
cross-wind /'krɒsˌwɪnd||'krɒːs-/ n a wind blowing across the line of flight of a plane, direction of movement of traffic etc