Cross has 23 different meanings across 5 categories:
Noun · Verb · Adjective · Prep · Proper Noun
a wooden structure consisting of an upright post with a transverse piece
"The archer climbed the cross to retrieve his bow from the top shelf where he had propped it up after practice."
a marking that consists of lines that cross each other
"The teacher asked us to draw an X in the corner of our papers as a mark indicating completion."
a representation of the structure on which Jesus was crucified; used as an emblem of Christianity or in heraldry
"The priest placed a small wooden cross on the altar before beginning the service."
any affliction that causes great suffering
"that is his cross to bear"
"he bears his afflictions like a crown of thorns"
(genetics) an organism that is the offspring of genetically dissimilar parents or stock; especially offspring produced by breeding plants or animals of different varieties or breeds or species
"a mule is a cross between a horse and a donkey"
(genetics) the act of mixing different species or varieties of animals or plants and thus to produce hybrids
"The farmer decided to cross his prize-winning cows with local breeds to see if it would improve their resistance to heat."
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.
"The traffic light blinked red, revealing a cross formed where the vertical bar was perfectly split in half by the horizontal line."
In plain English: A cross is an X-shaped symbol made of two lines crossing each other.
"The white cross on the flag represents peace."
Usage: Use the word cross as a noun to describe a shape made of two intersecting lines, often appearing in symbols like the Christian emblem or road signs. Do not use it for an angry expression, which requires the adjective form crossed or the verb form to cross someone.
travel across or pass over
"The caravan covered almost 100 miles each day"
breed animals or plants using parents of different races and varieties
"cross a horse and a donkey"
"Mendel tried crossbreeding"
"these species do not interbreed"
To make or form a cross.
"The gardener carefully tied twigs together to cross and secure the young sapling in place."
To place across or athwart; to cause to intersect.
"She tied a ribbon crosswise over her bag to secure it."
In plain English: To cross something means to go from one side to the other, like walking across a street.
"She crossed the street to get to the other side."
Usage: Use "cross" as a verb to describe physically making an X shape with two objects or lines, such as crossing your legs or drawing a line through a signature. It does not refer to the act of moving from one side to another, which is better expressed by "cross over" or simply "cross" in the sense of traversing.
extending or lying across; in a crosswise direction; at right angles to the long axis
"cross members should be all steel"
"from the transverse hall the stairway ascends gracefully"
"transversal vibrations"
"transverse colon"
annoyed and irritable
"After waiting forty minutes for his table, he was cross when the hostess finally approached him."
Transverse; lying across the main direction.
"The crosswind pushed our sails sideways, making it hard to steer straight down the river."
In plain English: Cross means feeling angry, annoyed, or irritated about something that has happened.
"The cross-eyed child had trouble focusing on the board."
Usage: Use "cross" as an adjective to describe something positioned diagonally or at right angles across the primary path, such as a cross street blocking your way. Avoid using it to mean angry or difficult unless specifically referring to a person's temperament or a challenging situation.
across
"She walked cross the street to catch the bus on the other side."
Alternative spelling of cross; sometimes used when referring to the historical cross on which Jesus died
"The old family of Cross settled in that valley centuries ago because their ancestral home stood right next to the stone cross marking the main trade route."
A topographic surname, from Middle English for someone who lived near a stone cross on a road.
The word cross entered Middle English from Old Norse and Latin, originally referring to the wooden instrument used for crucifixion. By the late 14th century, its meaning expanded to describe any two lines intersecting at right angles, regardless of religious significance.