# crossing

/ˈkɹɔsɪŋ/ (US) · /kɹˈɒsɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/crossing
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. road/rail transit point

noun · CEFR A2

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

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

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

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

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

### 3. church architecture

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

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

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

- The guide pointed out the beautiful stone arches at the crossing of the cathedral.
- The architect designed a massive central tower to sit directly above the crossing, distributing the weight through four reinforced piers.

Teaching tip: This is a highly specialised term used mainly in art history or architectural descriptions.

### 4. biological breeding

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

- The crossing of these two types of roses resulted in a beautiful new colour.
- Experimental crossing of drought-resistant strains has led to a significant increase in crop yields across the arid region.

## Examples

- Please use the pedestrian crossing to get to the other side.
- The ferry crossing takes about forty minutes depending on the weather conditions and the strength of the tide.
- Border officials increased security at every major crossing following the announcement of the new trade regulations to prevent the transport of prohibited goods.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.