Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - cross

~1 v 1 »GO FROM ONE SIDE TO ANOTHER« 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« 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« 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« 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« 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.)  (If you cross a horse with a donkey, you get a mule.)  (- see also cross2 (3), crossbreed1) 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« to make someone angry by opposing their plans or orders  (Anyone who dares to cross me will find themselves in serious trouble.) 13 »SPORT« to kick, throw, or hit the ball across the playing area in a sport such as football, hockey etc 14 »CHEQUE« 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 dot2 (4), keep your fingers crossed finger1 (3), cross the Rubicon Rubicon) cross sth off phr v 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 phr v to draw a line or lines through something you have written or drawn, usually because it is wrong cross over phr v 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 n 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 MARK 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 sign1 (10)) ~3 adj 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)