Crossing
'krɒsɪŋ
Definitions
4 meaningsA place or route where one crosses something, such as a road, river, or boundary.
'krɒsɪŋ
A place or point where two things intersect.
The zebra crossing allowed the children to safely cross the road.
💡 Simply: It's like a special spot where you can safely walk or drive across something, like a street or a river. Think of it like a bridge, but it might just be a marked path.
👶 For kids: A crossing is a place where you can go from one side to the other, like a street crossing to go from one side of the street to the other.
More Examples
We reached the river and found a shallow crossing.
The border crossing was heavily guarded.
How It's Used
"The pedestrian crossing is at the next corner."
"The river crossing was treacherous during the flood."
The action of moving or traveling across a space or obstacle.
'krɒsɪŋ
The act of moving across something.
The crossing of the English Channel took several hours.
💡 Simply: When you go from one side to the other, like crossing the street or a finish line, you're doing a 'crossing.' It's the act of going across.
👶 For kids: Crossing is when you go from one side to the other, like when you cross the street.
More Examples
The successful crossing of the desert was a major achievement.
He made the crossing of the border illegally.
How It's Used
"The swift crossing of the river was dangerous."
"The runner's crossing of the finish line was met with cheers."
An offspring or result of interbreeding, especially of different species or varieties.
'krɒsɪŋ
A mixture or breed.
The horse was a fine crossing of an Arabian and a thoroughbred.
💡 Simply: Sometimes, when two different types of animals or plants have babies, the babies are called a 'crossing'. It's like they got a mix of both!
👶 For kids: Sometimes different animals or plants have babies. Those babies are called a 'crossing'.
More Examples
The new variety of apple was a crossing of two sweeter apples.
They hope for a new color in this crossing.
How It's Used
"The new breed is a crossing between two different types of sheep"
The action of moving across, especially a road, a river, or a border.
'krɒsɪŋ
The action of moving across.
The children were crossing the street at the zebra crossing.
💡 Simply: When something is crossing, it's moving from one place to another, especially when there's something in the way. Think about a car crossing a bridge!
👶 For kids: Crossing is when something is going from one place to another, like walking from one side of the street to the other.
More Examples
The ship was crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
The runner was crossing the finish line.
How It's Used
"The dog was crossing the road."
"He scored after crossing the ball"
Idioms & expressions
a bridge too far
An attempt that is too ambitious or risky, and therefore bound to fail.
"Trying to launch a new product with limited resources was a bridge too far for the company."
cross one's fingers
To hope that something will happen or that you will be successful.
"I'm crossing my fingers that I get the job offer."
crossing the Rubicon
To pass a point of no return; to take a decisive step with irreversible consequences.
"Deciding to quit his job was crossing the Rubicon for him."
From the verb 'cross,' derived from Old Norse 'kross' (cross) and Old Irish 'cross' (cross). The -ing suffix indicates a present participle or gerund, denoting an action or a place where something crosses.
The term 'crossing' has been used for centuries in various contexts. Early uses relate to physical passages and also to the breeding of animals.
Memory tip
Imagine two paths meeting. The crossing is the spot they share.
Word Origin
"A cross, to intersect. Later influence from Old Irish."