cross

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   in genetics, the act of mixing different species or varieties of animals or plants and thus to produce hybrids

   I like to cross orchids in my spare time.

2. 2
   noun

   any affliction that causes great suffering

   That is our cross to bear.

3. 3
   verb

   to breed animals or plants using parents of different races and varieties

   cross a horse and a donkey

4. 4
   verb

   to trace a line through or across

   cross your `t'

5. 5
   verb

   to meet and pass

   the trains crossed

6. 6
   verb

   to fold so as to resemble a cross

   I crossed my legs.

7. 7
   noun

   A geometrical figure consisting of two straight lines or bars intersecting each other such that at least one of them is bisected by the other.

   Put a cross for a wrong answer and a tick for a right one.

8. 8
   noun

   A wooden post with a perpendicular beam attached and used (especially in the Roman Empire) to execute criminals (by crucifixion).

   Criminals were commonly executed on a wooden cross.

Etymology

From Middle English cross, cros, from Old English cros (“rood, cross”), from Old Norse kross, from Old Irish cros, from Latin crux (crucī). In this sense displaced native Middle English rode, from Old English rōd (“cross”); see English rood. Compare Welsh croes, Irish crois. The sense of "two intersecting lines drawn or cut on a surface; two lines intersecting at right angles" without regard to religious signification develops from the late 14th century. Cognates *Icelandic kross (“cross”) *Faroese krossur (“cross”) *Norwegian Nynorsk kross, kors (“cross”) *Danish kors (“cross”) *Swedish kors…