# crossword

/ˈkɹɔˌswɝd/ (US) · /kɹˈɒswɜːd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/crossword
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. the word puzzle

noun · CEFR B1

a game where you solve clues to fill a grid with words that cross each other.

For teachers: a word puzzle in which interlocking words are entered into a grid based on provided clues.

- He likes to do the crossword in the newspaper while he drinks his coffee.
- Solving the Sunday crossword has become a ritual for many readers, requiring both a broad vocabulary and a grasp of cryptic wordplay.

### 2. the grid itself

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

the pattern of black and white squares used for the puzzle.

For teachers: the physical or digital grid of squares that constitutes the layout of a crossword puzzle.

- She stared at the empty crossword, waiting for inspiration to strike.
- The editor noticed a symmetry error in the crossword, where the black squares did not match their counterparts on the opposite side.

## Examples

- I like to do the crossword while I drink my morning coffee.
- The Sunday edition of the newspaper always features a particularly difficult crossword that takes hours to complete.
- Solving a cryptic crossword requires not only a vast vocabulary but also the ability to decode complex wordplay and lateral thinking puzzles embedded within the clues.

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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.