ENGLISH
REFERENCE

crossing

n.
US //ˈkɹɔsɪŋ// UK //kɹˈɒsɪŋ// cross·ing
  1. 1 road/rail transit point (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a safe place to go across a road, railway, or river.

    a designated location where a road, railway, or waterway may be traversed safely.

    Example

    Always use the pedestrian crossing when you want to get to the other side of the busy street.

    Example

    The local council installed a new signal-controlled crossing to improve safety for students walking to the nearby primary school.

    Usage

    Often used with 'pedestrian', 'level', or 'border'.
  2. 2 sea journey (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a trip across a large body of water, like a sea or an ocean.

    a voyage from one side of a body of water to the other.

    Example

    The ferry crossing was very rough because of the stormy weather.

    Example

    The transatlantic crossing took nearly six days, during which the passengers enjoyed a variety of shipboard entertainments.

    Usage

    Commonly modified by adjectives like 'rough', 'smooth', or 'short'.
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  1. 3 church architecture (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Architecture

    the central area of a church where the main parts meet in the shape of a cross.

    the space in a cruciform church formed by the intersection of the nave, chancel, and transepts.

    Example

    The guide pointed out the beautiful stone arches at the crossing of the cathedral.

    Example

    The architect designed a massive central tower to sit directly above the crossing, distributing the weight through four reinforced piers.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a highly specialised term used mainly in art history or architectural descriptions.
  2. 4 biological breeding (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    the act of mixing two different types of animals or plants to create a new one.

    the process of interbreeding different species or varieties to produce hybrid offspring.

    Example

    The crossing of these two types of roses resulted in a beautiful new colour.

    Example

    Experimental crossing of drought-resistant strains has led to a significant increase in crop yields across the arid region.
Origin

By surface analysis, cross + -ing.

Word family

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