cr -abbr
- center
- circular
- commander
- cream
- creased
- credit; creditor
- creek
- crescendo
Cr -symbol
- chromium
CR -abbr
- carrier's risk
- cathode ray
- conditioned reflex; conditioned response
- consciousness-raising
- current rate
crab ['krab] -n
- : any of numerous chiefly marine broadly built decapod crustaceans:
- any of an infraorder (Brachyura) with a short broad usu. flattened carapace, a small abdomen that curls forward beneath the body, short antennae, and the anterior pair of limbs modified as grasping pincers
- any of various crustaceans of an infraorder (Anomura) resembling true crabs in the more or less reduced condition of the abdomen
- cancer
- infestation with crab lice
- the angular difference between an aircraft's course and the heading necessary to make that course in the presence of a crosswind
- to fish for crabs
- to move sideways indirectly or diagonally
- to crab an airplane
- to scuttle or scurry sideways
- to cause to move sideways or in an indirect or diagonal manner
- to head (an airplane) into a crosswind to counteract drift
- to subject to crabbing
- crab apple
- an ill-tempered person : grouch
- to make sullen : sour
- old age has crabbed his nature
- to complain about peevishly
- spoil, ruin
- carp, grouse
- always crab s about the weather
crab apple -n
- any of various wild or cultivated trees (genus Malus) that are cultivars or relatives of the cultivated apple and that produce small sour fruit
- the fruit
crab·bed ['kra-bəd] -adj, n
- marked by a forbidding moroseness
- a crabbed view of human nature
- difficult to read or understand
crab·by ['kra-bē] -adj
- cross, ill-natured
crab·eat·er seal ['krab-,ē-tər-] -n
- an Antarctic hair seal ( Lobodon carcinophaga) that feeds on krill and lives and breeds on pack ice called also crabeater
crab·grass ['krab-,gras] -n
- a grass (esp. Digitaria sanguinalis) that has creeping or decumbent stems which root freely at the nodes and that is often a pest in turf or cultivated lands
crab louse -n
- a sucking louse ( Phthirus pubis) infesting the pubic region of the human body
crab·meat ['krab-,mēt] -n
- the edible part of a crab
crab spider -n
- any of a family (Thomisidae) of spiders that resemble crabs in shape and in being able to walk forward, backward, and sideways
crab·stick [-,stik] -n
- a stick, cane, or cudgel of crab apple tree wood
- a crabbed ill-natured person
crab·wise [-,wīz] -adv
- sideways
- in a sidling or cautiously indirect manner
crack ['krak] -vb
- to make a very sharp explosive sound
- the whip crack s through the air
- to break, split, or snap apart
- : fail: as
- to lose control or effectiveness under pressure often used with up
- to fail in tone
- to go or travel at good speed usu. used with on
- the steamboat crack ed on
- to break so that fissures appear on the surface
- to break with a sudden sharp sound
- to tell esp. suddenly or strikingly
- to strike with a sharp noise : rap
- then crack s him over the head
- crack ed a two-run homer in the fifth -- N.Y. Times
- to open (as a bottle) for drinking
- to open (a book) for studying
- to puzzle out and expose, solve, or reveal the mystery of
- to break into
- to open slightly
- to break through (as a barrier) so as to gain acceptance or recognition
- to show or begin showing (a smile) esp. reluctantly or uncharacteristically
- to impair seriously or irreparably : wreck
- crack an opponent's courage
- to destroy the tone of (a voice)
- disorder, craze
- to interrupt sharply or abruptly
- the criticism crack ed our complacency
- to cause to make a sharp noise
- to subject (hydrocarbons) to cracking
- to produce by cracking
- to break up (chemical compounds) into simpler compounds by means of heat
- a loud roll or peal
- a sudden sharp noise
- a sharp witty remark : quip
- a narrow break : fissure
- a narrow opening
- leave the door open a crack
- crack s between floorboards
used figuratively in phrases like fall through the cracks to describe one that has been improperly or inadvertently ignored or left out - a player who fell through the crack s in the college draft
- children slipping through the crack s of available youth services
- a weakness or flaw caused by decay, age, or deficiency : unsoundness
- a broken tone of the voice
- crackpot
- moment, instant
- housebreaking, burglary
- a sharp resounding blow
- gave him a crack on the head
- an attempt or opportunity to do something
- her first crack at writing a novel
- got first crack at the job opening
- a potent form of cocaine that is obtained by treating the hydrochloride of cocaine with sodium bicarbonate to create small chips used illicitly for smoking called also crack cocaine
- of superior excellence or ability
crack baby -n
- an infant subjected to prolonged exposure to crack cocaine in the mother's womb
crack·back ['krak-,bak] -n
- a blind-side block on a defensive back in football by a pass receiver who starts downfield and then cuts back to the middle of the line
crack·brain [-,brān] -n, adj
- an erratic person : crackpot
crack·down [-,dau̇n] -n
- an act or instance of cracking down
crack down -vi
- to take positive regulatory or disciplinary action
cracked ['krakt] -adj
- broken (as by a sharp blow) so that the surface is fissured
- broken into coarse particles
- marked by harshness, dissonance, or failure to sustain a tone
- mentally disturbed : crazy
crack·er ['kra-kər] -n
- a bragging liar : boaster
- : something that makes a cracking or snapping noise: as
- firecracker
- the snapping end of a whiplash : snapper
- a paper holder for a party favor that pops when the ends are pulled sharply
- nutcracker
- a dry thin crispy baked bread product that may be leavened or unleavened
- a poor usu. Southern white
- a native or resident of Florida or Georgia used as a nickname
- the equipment in which cracking (as of petroleum) is carried out
- hacker
crack·erbar·rel [-,ba-rəl] -adj
- suggestive of the friendly homespun character of a country store
- a crackerbarrel philosopher
crack·er·jack ['kra-kər-,jak] -n, adj
- a person or thing of marked excellence
Cracker Jack -trademark
- used for a candied popcorn confection
crack·ers ['kra-kərz] -adj
- crazy
crack·head ['krak-,hed] -n
- one who smokes crack
crack house -n
- a house or apartment where crack is made, sold, or used
crack·ing ['kra-kiŋ] -adj
- very impressive or effective : great
cracking -adv
- very, extremely
- a process in which relatively heavy hydrocarbons are broken up by heat into lighter products (as gasoline)
crack·le ['kra-kəl] -vb, adv
- to make small sharp sudden repeated noises
- the fire crackle s on the hearth
- to show animation : sparkle
- the essays crackle with wit
- craze
- to crush or crack with snapping noises
crackle -n
- the noise of repeated small cracks or reports
- sparkle, effervescence
- a network of fine cracks on an otherwise smooth surface
crack·le·ware ['kra-kəl-,wer] -n
- ceramic ware with a decorative crazed glaze
crack·ling -n
- a series of small sharp cracks or reports
- the crackling of frozen snow as we walk
- the crisp residue left after the rendering of lard from fat or the frying or roasting of the skin (as of pork) usu. used in pl.
crack·ly ['kra-k(ə-)lē] -adj
- inclined to crackle : crisp
crack·nel ['krak-nᵊl] -n
- a hard brittle biscuit
- crackling usu. used in pl.
crack·pot ['krak-,pät] -n, adj
- one given to eccentric or lunatic notions
cracks·man ['kraks-mən] -n
- burglar
- safecracker
crackup ['krak-,əp] -n
- crash, wreck
- a mental collapse : nervous breakdown
- his wife's death brought on his crackup
- collapse, breakdown
crack up -vt
- praise, tout
- wasn't all that it was cracked up to be
- to damage or destroy (a vehicle) by crashing
- to cause to laugh out loud
- that joke really cracks him up
- to damage or destroy a vehicle (as by losing control)
- to laugh out loud
cra·dle ['krā-dᵊl] -n
- a bed or cot for a baby usu. on rockers or pivots
- : a framework or support suggestive of a baby's cradle: as
- a framework of bars and rods
- the support for a telephone receiver or handset
- an implement with rods like fingers attached to a scythe and used formerly for harvesting grain
- a frame to keep the bedclothes from contact with an injured part of the body
- the earliest period of life : infancy
- from the cradle to the grave
- a place of origin
- the cradle of civilization
- a rocking device used in panning for gold
cradle ['krād-liŋ, 'krā-dᵊl-iŋ] -vb
- to place or keep in or as if in a cradle
- shelter, rear
- to support protectively or intimately
- cradling the injured man's head in her arms
- to cut (grain) with a cradle scythe
- to place, raise, support, or transport on a cradle
- to rest in or as if in a cradle
cradle cap -n
- a seborrheic condition in infants that usu. affects the scalp and is characterized by greasy gray or dark brown adherent scaly crusts
cra·dle·song ['krā-dᵊl-,sȯŋ] -n
- lullaby
craft ['kraft] -n
- skill in planning, making, or executing : dexterity
- an occupation or trade requiring manual dexterity or artistic skill
- the craft of writing plays
- craft s such as pottery, carpentry, and sewing
- articles made by craftspeople
- skill in deceiving to gain an end
- used craft and guile to close the deal
- the members of a trade or trade association
- a boat esp. of small size
- aircraft
- spacecraft
- to make or produce with care, skill, or ingenuity
- is craft ing a new sculpture
- a carefully craft ed story
crafts·man ['kraf(t)s-mən] -n, adj
- a worker who practices a trade or handicraft
- one who creates or performs with skill or dexterity esp. in the manual arts
- jewelry made by European craftsmen
crafts·peo·ple [-,pē-pəl] -n pl
- workers who practice a trade or craft
crafts·per·son [-,pər-sᵊn] -n
- a craftsman or craftswoman
crafts·wom·an ['kraf(t)s-,wu̇-mən] -n
- a woman who is an artisan
- a woman who is skilled in a craft
craft union -n
- a labor union with membership limited to workers of the same craft
crafty ['kraf-tē] -adj, adv, n
- skillful, clever
- adept in the use of subtlety and cunning
- marked by subtlety and guile
crag ['krag] -n, adj
- a steep rugged rock or cliff
- a sharp detached fragment of rock
- neck, throat
crag·gy ['kra-gē] -adj, adv, n
- full of crags
- rough, rugged
crags·man ['kragz-mən] -n
- one who is expert in climbing crags or cliffs
crake ['krāk] -n
- any of various rails
- a short-billed rail (as the corncrake)
- the corncrake's cry
cram ['kram] -vb, n
- to pack tight : jam
- cram a suitcase with clothes
- a novel crammed with surprises
- to fill with food to satiety : stuff
- to eat voraciously : bolt
- the child cram s her food
- to thrust in or as if in a rough or forceful manner
- crammed the letters into his pocket
- to prepare hastily for an examination
- cram the students for the test
- to eat greedily or to satiety : stuff
- to study a subject intensively esp. for an imminent examination
- a compressed multitude or crowd : crush
- last-minute study esp. for an examination
cram·bo ['kram-(,)bō] -n
- a game in which one player gives a word or line of verse to be matched in rhyme by other players
cramp ['kramp] -n, adj
- a painful involuntary spasmodic contraction of a muscle
- a temporary paralysis of muscles from overuse
- sharp abdominal pain usu. used in pl.
- persistent and often intense though dull lower abdominal pain associated with dysmenorrhea usu. used in pl.
- a usu. iron device bent at the ends and used to hold timbers or blocks of stone together
- clamp
- something that confines : shackle
- the state of being confined
- to affect with or as if with a cramp or cramps
- confine, restrain
- was cramp ed in the tiny apartment
- to restrain from free expression used esp. in the phrase cramp one's style
- to fasten or hold with a cramp
- to be affected with cramps
- hard to understand or figure out
- being cramped
cram·pon ['kram-,pän] -n
- a hooked clutch or dog for raising heavy objects usu. used in pl.
- a climbing iron used esp. on ice and snow in mountaineering usu. used in pl.
cran·ber·ry ['kran-,ber-ē, -,be-rē, -b(ə-)rē] -n
- the red acid berry produced by some plants (as Vaccinium oxycoccosand V. macrocarpon) of the heath family
- a plant producing these
- any of various plants with a fruit that resembles a cranberry
- a dark red
cranberry bush -n
- highbush cranberry
crane ['krān] -n
- any of a family (Gruidae of the order Gruiformes) of tall wading birds superficially resembling the herons but structurally more nearly related to the rails
- any of several herons
- : an often horizontal projection swinging about a vertical axis: as
- a machine for raising, shifting, and lowering heavy weights by means of a projecting swinging arm or with the hoisting apparatus supported on an overhead track
- an iron arm in a fireplace for supporting kettles
- a boom for holding a motion-picture or television camera
- to raise or lift by or as if by a crane
- to stretch (as the neck) toward an object of attention
- craning her neck to get a better view
- to stretch one's neck toward an object of attention
- I craned out of the window of my compartment -- Webb Waldron
- hesitate
crane fly -n
- any of a family (Tipulidae) of long-legged slender dipteran flies that resemble large mosquitoes but do not bite
cranes·bill ['krānz-,bil] -n
- geranium
crani- -comb form
- cranium: cranial and
cra·ni·al ['krā-nē-əl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to the skull or cranium
- cephalic
cranial index -n
- the ratio multiplied by 100 of the maximum breadth of the bare skull to its maximum length from front to back
cranial nerve -n
- any of the nerves that arise in pairs from the lower surface of the brain one on each side and pass through openings in the skull to the periphery of the body and that comprise 12 pairs in reptiles, birds, and mammals and usu. 10 in fishes and amphibians
cra·ni·ate ['krā-nē-ət, -,āt] -adj, n
- having a cranium
cra·nio·ce·re·bral [,krā-nē-ō-sə-'rē-brəl, -'ser-ə-] -adj
- involving both cranium and brain
cra·nio·fa·cial [-'fā-shəl] -adj
- of, relating to, or involving both the cranium and the face
cra·ni·ol·o·gy [,krā-nē-'ä-lə-jē] -n
- a science dealing with variations in size, shape, and proportions of skulls among human races
cra·ni·om·e·try [-'ä-mə-trē] -n
- a science dealing with cranial measurement
cra·nio·sa·cral [,krā-nē-ō-'sa-krəl, -'sā-] -adj
- parasympathetic
craniosacral therapy -n
- a system of gentle touch designed to enhance the functioning of the membranes, tissues, fluids, and bones surrounding or associated with the brain and spinal cord
cra·nio·syn·os·to·sis [-,si-,näs-'tō-səs] -n
- premature fusion of the sutures of the skull
cra·ni·ot·o·my [,krā-nē-'ä-tə-mē] -n
- surgical opening of the skull
cra·ni·um ['krā-nē-əm] -n
- skull
- the part that encloses the brain : braincase
crank ['kraŋk] -n, adj
- a bent part of an axle or shaft or an arm keyed at right angles to the end of a shaft by which circular motion is imparted to or received from the shaft or by which reciprocating motion is changed into circular motion or vice versa
- bend
- a twist or turn of speech : conceit used esp. in the phrase quips and cranks
- caprice, crotchet
- an annoyingly eccentric person
- one who is overly enthusiastic about a particular subject or activity
- a bad-tempered person : grouch
- crystal
- to move with a winding course : zigzag
- to turn a crank
- to get started by or as if by the turning of a crank
- to gain speed, momentum, or intensity usu. used with up
- the campaign is crank ing up
- to move or operate by or as if by a crank
- to cause to start (as an automobile)
- to rotate the shaft (as a crankshaft) of esp. with a starter
- to use in trying to start an engine
- to start as if by use of a crank usu. used with up
- she crank ed up the air conditioner
- turn up usu. used with up
- of, relating to, or being a cranky or eccentric person
- made or sent by such a person
- merry, high-spirited
- cocky, confident
- easily tipped : tender
crank·case ['kraŋk-,kās] -n
- the housing of a crankshaft
crank out -vt
- to produce esp. in a mechanical manner
crank·pin ['kraŋk-,pin] -n
- the cylindrical piece which forms the handle of a crank or to which a connecting rod is attached
crank·shaft ['kraŋk-,shaft] -n
- a shaft driven by or driving a crank
- a shaft consisting of a series of cranks and crankpins to which the connecting rods of an engine are attached
cranky ['kraŋ-kē] -adj, adv, n
- given to fretful fussiness : readily angered when opposed : crotchety
- our long wait...left us a tad cranky -- Connecticut
- marked by eccentricity
- his bizarre and cranky mix of ideas and beliefs -- R. J. Evans
- full of twists and turns : tortuous
- working erratically : unpredictable
- crazy, imbecile
- crank
cran·nog ['kra-nəg] -n
- an artificial fortified island constructed in a lake or marsh orig. in prehistoric Ireland and Scotland
cran·ny ['kra-nē] -n, adj
- a small break or slit : crevice
- an obscure nook or corner
cran·reuch ['kran-,ru̇k̲] -n
- hoarfrost, rime
crap ['krap] -vi
- defecate
- feces
- the act of defecating
- nonsense, rubbish
- stuff
- used as an attributive form of craps
- a throw of 2, 3, or 12 in the game of craps losing the shooter his bet unless he has a point called also craps
- to throw a crap
- to throw a seven while trying to make a point usu. used with out
crape ['krāp] -n
- crepe
- a band of crepe worn on a hat or sleeve as a sign of mourning
- to cover or shroud with or as if with crape
- to make (the hair) curly
crape myrtle -n
- an Asian shrub ( Lagerstroemia indica) of the loosestrife family widely grown in warm regions for its flowers
crap·o·la [,krap-'ō-lə] -n
- nonsense, rubbish
- stuff
crap·per ['kra-pər] -n
- toilet
crap·pie ['krä-pē] -n
- black crappie
- white crappie
crap·py ['kra-pē] -adj
- markedly inferior in quality : lousy
craps ['kraps] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- a gambling game played with two dice
- crap
crap·shoot ['krap-,shüt] -n
- something (as a business venture) that has an unpredictable outcome
crap·shoot·er ['krap-,shü-tər] -n
- one who plays craps
crap·u·lous ['kra-pyə-ləs] -adj
- marked by intemperance esp. in eating or drinking
- sick from excessive indulgence in liquor
crash ['krash] -vb, n
- to break violently and noisily : smash
- to damage (an airplane) in landing
- to cause to make a loud noise
- crash the cymbals together
- to force (as one's way) through with loud crashing noises
- to enter or attend without invitation or without paying
- to move toward aggressively (as in fighting for a rebound)
- basketball players crash ing the boards
- to cause (a computer system, component, or program) to crash
- to break or go to pieces with or as if with violence and noise
- to fall, land, or hit with destructive force
- to decline suddenly and steeply
- to suffer a sudden major failure usu. with attendant loss of data
- to make a smashing noise
- thunder crash ing overhead
- to move or force one's way with or as if with a crash
- to experience the aftereffects (as lethargy or depression) of a usu. prolonged episode of drug use (as of amphetamines)
- to go to bed or fall asleep
- to reside temporarily : stay
- crash ing with friends for a few days
- a loud sound (as of things smashing)
- a breaking to pieces by or as if by collision
- an instance of crashing
- a sudden decline (as of a population) or failure (as of a business)
- the process of crashing after drug intoxication
- marked by a concerted effort and effected in the shortest possible time esp. to meet emergency conditions
- a crash renovation program
- a coarse fabric used for draperies, toweling, and clothing and for strengthening joints of cased-in books
crash cart -n
- a cart stocked with emergency medical equipment, supplies, and drugs for use by medical personnel esp. during efforts to resuscitate a patient experiencing cardiac arrest
crash course -n
- a rapid and intense course of study
- an experience that resembles such a course
- has been given a crash course in diplomacy in his first weeks in office
crash dive -n, vi
- a dive made by a submarine in the least possible time
crash helmet -n
- a helmet that is worn (as by motorcyclists) as protection for the head in the event of an accident
crash·ing ['kra-shiŋ] -adj, adv
- utter, absolute
- superlative
crashland ['krash-'land] -vt, n
- to land (an airplane or spacecraft) under emergency conditions usu. with damage to the craft
- to crash-land an airplane or spacecraft
crash pad -n
- protective padding (as on the inside of an automobile or a tank)
- a place to stay temporarily
crash·wor·thy ['krash-,wər-thē] -adj, n
- resistant to the effects of collision
crass ['kras] -adj, adv, n
- gross
- having or indicating such grossness of mind as precludes delicacy and discrimination
- being beneath one's dignity
- crass concerns of daily life
- used as a pejorative intensifier
- guided by or indicative of base or materialistic values
- crass measures of success
cras·si·tude ['kra-sə-,tüd, -,tyüd] -n
- the quality or state of being crass : grossness
- an instance of grossness
cratch ['krach] -n
- manger
- a crib or rack esp. for fodder
- frame
crate ['krāt] -n
- an open box of wooden slats or a usu. wooden protective case or framework for shipping
- jalopy
- to pack in a crate
cra·ter ['krā-tər] -n, adj
- the bowl-shaped depression around the orifice of a volcano
- a depression formed by an impact (as of a meteorite)
- a hole in the ground made by the explosion of a bomb or shell
- an eroded lesion
- a dimple in a painted surface
crater -vi
- to exhibit or form craters
- to fail or fall suddenly and dramatically : collapse, crash
- to form craters in
crater ['krā-tər, krä-'ter] -n
(variant of krater)
- a jar or vase of classical antiquity having a large round body and a wide mouth and used for mixing wine and water
cra·ter·let ['krā-tər-lət] -n
- a small crater
cra·ton ['krā-,tän, 'kra-] -n, adj
- a stable relatively immobile area of the earth's crust that forms the nuclear mass of a continent or the central basin of an ocean
craunch ['krȯnch, 'kränch] -vb, n
- crunch
cra·vat [krə-'vat] -n
- a band or scarf worn around the neck
- necktie
crave ['krāv] -vb, n
- to ask for earnestly : beg, demand
- crave a pardon for neglect
- to want greatly : need
- to yearn for
- to have a strong or inward desire
cra·ven ['krā-vən] -adj, n, adv
- defeated, vanquished
- lacking the least bit of courage : contemptibly fainthearted
crav·ing ['krā-viŋ] -n
- an intense, urgent, or abnormal desire or longing
craw ['krȯ] -n
- the crop of a bird or insect
- the stomach esp. of a lower animal
craw·dad ['krȯ-,dad] -n
- crayfish used chiefly west of the Appalachians
craw·fish ['krȯ-,fish] -n
- crayfish
- spiny lobster
crawfish -vi
- to retreat from a position : back out
- I crawfish ed as fast as I could -- Mark Twain
crawl ['krȯl] -vb
- to move slowly in a prone position without or as if without the use of limbs
- the snake crawl ed into its hole
- to move or progress slowly or laboriously
- traffic crawl s along at 10 miles an hour
- to advance by guile or servility
- crawl ing into favor by toadying to his boss
- to spread by extending stems or tendrils
- to be alive or swarming with or as if with creeping things
- a kitchen crawl ing with ants
- to have the sensation of insects creeping over one
- the story made her flesh crawl
- to fail to stay evenly spread used of paint, varnish, or glaze
- to move upon in or as if in a creeping manner
- all the creatures that crawl the earth
- to reprove harshly
- they got no good right to crawl me for what I wrote -- Marjorie K. Rawlings
- the act or action of crawling
- slow or laborious progress
- a going from one pub to another
- a fast swimming stroke executed in a prone position with alternating overarm strokes and a flutter kick
- lettering that moves vertically or horizontally across a television or motion-picture screen to give information (as performer credits or news bulletins)
crawl·er ['krȯ-lər] -n
- one that crawls
- a vehicle (as a crane) that travels on endless chain belts
crawl space -n
- a shallow unfinished space beneath the first floor or under the roof of a building esp. for access to plumbing or wiring
crawl·way ['krȯl-,wā] -n
- a low passageway (as in a cave) that can be traversed only by crawling
crawly ['krȯ-lē] -adj
- creepy
- marked by crawling or slow motion
cray·fish ['krā-,fish] -n
- any of numerous freshwater decapod crustaceans (esp. families Astacidea, Cambaridae, and Parastacidae) resembling the lobster but usu. much smaller
- spiny lobster
cray·on ['krā-,än, -ən also 'kran] -n
- a stick of white or colored chalk or of colored wax used for writing or drawing
- a crayon drawing
crayon ['krā-ə-nist] -vt, n
- to draw with a crayon
craze ['krāz] -vb
- break, shatter
- to produce minute cracks on the surface or glaze of
- to make insane or as if insane
- shatter, break
- to become insane
- to develop a mesh of fine cracks
- an exaggerated and often transient enthusiasm : mania
- the latest craze in music
- a crack in a surface or coating (as of glaze or enamel)
cra·zy ['krā-zē] -adj, adv, n
- full of cracks or flaws : unsound
- they were very crazy, wretched cabins -- Charles Dickens
- crooked, askew
- mad, insane
- impractical
- erratic
- being out of the ordinary : unusual
- distracted with desire or excitement
- absurdly fond : infatuated
- he's crazy about the girl
- passionately preoccupied : obsessed
crazy -n
- one who is or acts crazy
- such a one associated with a radical or extremist political cause
- extremely, wildly
crazy bone -n
- funny bone
crazy quilt -n
- a patchwork quilt without a design
- jumble, hodgepodge
- a crazy quilt of regulations
crazyquilt -adj
- resembling a crazy quilt : haphazard
cra·zy·weed ['krā-zē-,wēd] -n
- locoweed
CRC -abbr
- Civil Rights Commission
Cre·ac·tive protein ['sē-rē-'ak-tiv-] -n
- a protein present in blood serum in various abnormal states (as inflammation or neoplasia)
creak ['krēk] -vi
- to make a prolonged grating or squeaking sound often as a result of being worn-out
- to proceed slowly with or as if with creaking wheels
- the story creak s along to a dull conclusion
- a rasping or grating noise
creaky ['krē-kē] -adj, adv, n
- marked by creaking : squeaky
- showing signs of deterioration or decrepitude
cream ['krēm] -n
- the yellowish part of milk containing from 18 to about 40 percent butterfat
- a food prepared with cream
- something having the consistency of cream
- a usu. emulsified medicinal or cosmetic preparation
- the choicest part : best
- creamer
- a pale yellow
- a cream-colored animal
- to form cream or a surface layer like the cream on standing milk
- to break into or cause something to break into a creamy froth
- to move like froth
- skim
- to remove (something choice) from an aggregate
- she has cream ed off her favorite stories from her earlier books -- Times Lit. Supp.
- to furnish, prepare, or treat with cream
- to dress with a cream sauce
- to beat into a creamy froth
- to work or blend to the consistency of cream
- cream butter and sugar together
- to cause to form a surface layer of or like cream
- to defeat decisively
- was cream ed in the first round
- wreck
- cream ed the car on the turnpike
- to hit with force : smash
- the quarterback got cream ed by the pass rush
cream cheese -n
- a mild soft unripened cheese made from whole sweet milk enriched with cream
cream·cups ['krēm-,kəps] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- a California annual ( Platystemon californicus) of the poppy family
cream·er ['krē-mər] -n
- a small vessel for serving cream
- a nondairy product used as a substitute for cream (as in coffee)
cream·ery ['krēm-rē, 'kre-mə-] -n
- an establishment where butter and cheese are made or where milk and cream are prepared or sold
cream of tartar
- a white crystalline salt C 4H 5KO 6used esp. in baking powder and in certain treatments of metals
cream puff -n
- a round shell of light pastry filled with whipped cream or a cream filling
- an ineffectual person
- something trifling, inconsiderable, or easily dealt with
- a usu. used motor vehicle that is in especially good condition
cream soda -n
- a carbonated soft drink flavored with vanilla
cream·ware ['krēm-,wer] -n
- earthenware having a cream-colored glaze
creamy ['krē-mē] -adj, adv, n
- containing cream
- resembling cream (as in color, texture, or taste)
crease ['krēs] -n, adj
- a line, mark, or ridge made by or as if by folding a pliable substance
- a specially marked area in various sports
- an area surrounding or in front of a goal (as in lacrosse or hockey)
- to make a crease in or on : wrinkle
- to wound slightly esp. by grazing
- to become creased
cre·ate [krē-'āt, 'krē-,] -vb
- to bring into existence
- God created the heaven and the earth -- Gen 1:1(AV)
- to invest with a new form, office, or rank
- to produce or bring about by a course of action or behavior
- her arrival created a terrible fuss
- cause, occasion
- famine create s high food prices
- to produce through imaginative skill
- design
- to make or bring into existence something new
- to set up a scoring opportunity in basketball
create -adj
- created
cre·a·tine ['krē-ə-,tēn, -tᵊn] -n
- a white crystalline nitrogenous substance C 4H 9N 3O 2found esp. in the muscles of vertebrates either free or as phosphocreatine
- a synthetic usu. hydrated form of creatine taken esp. as a dietary supplement
creatine kinase -n
- any of three isoenzymes found esp. in vertebrate skeletal and myocardial muscle that catalyze the transfer of a high-energy phosphate group from phosphocreatine to ADP with the formation of ATP and creatine
creatine phosphate -n
- phosphocreatine
cre·at·i·nine [krē-'a-tə-,nēn, -ən] -n
- a white crystalline strongly basic compound C 4H 7N 3O formed from creatine and found esp. in muscle, blood, and urine
cre·a·tion [krē-'ā-shən] -n
- the act of creating
- the act of bringing the world into ordered existence
- : the act of making, inventing, or producing: as
- the act of investing with a new rank or office
- the first representation of a dramatic role
- : something that is created: as
- world
- creatures singly or in aggregate
- an original work of art
- a new usu. striking article of clothing
cre·a·tion·ism [-shə-,ni-zəm] -n, n or adj
- a doctrine or theory holding that matter, the various forms of life, and the world were created by God out of nothing and usu. in the way described in Genesis
creation science -n
- creationism
- scientific evidence or arguments put forth in support of creationism
cre·a·tive [krē-'ā-tiv, 'krē-,] -adj, adv, n
- marked by the ability or power to create : given to creating
- having the quality of something created rather than imitated : imaginative
- managed so as to get around legal or conventional limits
- deceptively arranged so as to conceal or defraud
creative -n
- one who is creative
- one involved in the creation of advertisements
- creative activity or the material produced by it esp. in advertising
creative evolution -n
- evolution that is a creative product of a vital force rather than a spontaneous process explicable in terms of scientific laws
cre·a·tiv·i·ty [,krē-(,)ā-'ti-və-tē, ,krē-ə-] -n
- the quality of being creative
- the ability to create
cre·a·tor [krē-'ā-tər] -n
- one that creates usu. by bringing something new or original into being
- god
crea·ture ['krē-chər] -n, adj
- : something created either animate or inanimate: as
- a lower animal
- a farm animal
- a human being
- a being of anomalous or uncertain aspect or nature
- one that is the servile dependent or tool of another : instrument
creature comfort -n
- something (as food, warmth, or special accommodations) that gives bodily comfort
creche ['kresh, 'krāsh] -n
- a representation of the Nativity scene
- day nursery
- a foundling hospital
- a group of young animals (as penguins or bats) gathered in one place for care and protection usu. by one or more adults
cred ['kred] -n
- credibility
- the ability to gain acceptance as a member of a particular group or class
- used...his new street cred to develop contacts -- Dale Keiger
cre·dence ['krē-dᵊn(t)s] -n
- mental acceptance as true or real
- credibility
- lends credence to the theory
- credentials used in the phrase letters of credence
- a Renaissance sideboard used chiefly for valuable plate
- a small table where the bread and wine rest before consecration
cre·dent ['krē-dᵊnt] -adj
- giving credence : confiding
- credible
cre·den·tial [kri-'den(t)-shəl] -adj
- warranting credit or confidence used chiefly in the phrase credential letters
credential -n
- something that gives a title to credit or confidence
- qualification
- testimonials or certified documents showing that a person is entitled to credit or has a right to exercise official power
- certificate, diploma
- to furnish with credentials
- to credential adequate academic performance -- K. Patricia Cross
cre·den·tial·ism [-shə-,li-zəm] -n
- undue emphasis on credentials (as college degrees) as prerequisites to employment
cre·den·za [kri-'den-zə] -n
- credence
- a sideboard, buffet, or bookcase patterned after a Renaissance credence
- one without legs
cred·i·bil·i·ty [,kre-də-'bi-lə-tē] -n
- the quality or power of inspiring belief
- an account lacking in credibility
- capacity for belief
- strains her reader's credibility -- Times Lit. Supp.
credibility gap -n
- lack of trust
- a credibility gap between generations
- lack of believability
- a credibility gap created by contradictory official statements -- Samuel Ellenport
- discrepancy
- the credibility gap between the professed ideals...and their actual practices -- Jeanne L. Noble
cred·i·ble ['kre-də-bəl] -adj, adv
- offering reasonable grounds for being believed
- a credible account of an accident
- of sufficient capability to be militarily effective
cred·it ['kre-dit] -n
- reliance on the truth or reality of something
- gave credit to everything he said
- the balance in a person's favor in an account
- an amount or sum placed at a person's disposal by a bank
- the provision of money, goods, or services with the expectation of future payment
- money, goods, or services so provided
- an entry on the right-hand side of an account constituting an addition to a revenue, net worth, or liability account
- a deduction from an expense or asset account
- any one of or the sum of the items entered on the right-hand side of an account
- a deduction from an amount otherwise due
- influence or power derived from enjoying the confidence of another or others
- good name : esteem
- financial or commercial trustworthiness
- credibility
- a source of honor
- something that gains or adds to reputation or esteem : honor
- took no credit for his kindly act
- recognition, acknowledgment
- quite willing to accept undeserved credit
- recognition by name of a person contributing to a performance (as a film or telecast)
- recognition by a school or college that a student has fulfilled a requirement leading to a degree
- credit hour
credit -vt
- to trust in the truth of : believe
- find his story hard to credit
- to supply goods on credit to
- to bring credit or honor upon
- to enter upon the credit side of an account
- to place an amount to the credit of
- credit his account with ten dollars
- to consider usu. favorably as the source, agent, or performer of an action or the possessor of a trait
- credit s him with an excellent sense of humor
- to attribute to some person
- they credit the invention to him
cred·it·able ['kre-di-tə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- worthy of belief
- sufficiently good to bring esteem or praise
- worthy of commercial credit
- capable of being assigned
credit card -n
- a card authorizing purchases on credit
credit hour -n
- the unit of measuring educational credit usu. based on the number of classroom hours per week throughout a term
credit line -n
- line of credit
- a line, note, or name that acknowledges the source of an item (as a news dispatch or television program)
cred·i·tor ['kre-di-tər, -,tȯr] -n
- one to whom a debt is owed
- a person to whom money or goods are due
credit union -n
- a cooperative association that makes small loans to its members at low interest rates and offers other banking services (as savings and checking accounts)
cred·it·wor·thy ['kre-dit-,wər-thē] -adj, n
- financially sound enough to justify the extension of credit
cre·do ['krē-(,)dō, 'krā-] -n
- creed
cre·du·li·ty [kri-'dü-lə-tē, -'dyü-] -n
- readiness or willingness to believe esp. on slight or uncertain evidence
cred·u·lous ['kre-jə-ləs] -adj, adv, n
- ready to believe esp. on slight or uncertain evidence
- accused of swindling credulous investors
- proceeding from credulity
Cree ['krē] -n
- a member of an American Indian people of Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan
- the Algonquian language of the Cree people
creed ['krēd] -n, adj
- a brief authoritative formula of religious belief
- a set of fundamental beliefs
- a guiding principle
creek ['krēk, 'krik] -n
- a small inlet or bay narrower and extending farther inland than a cove
- a natural stream of water normally smaller than and often tributary to a river
- a narrow or winding passage
Creek ['krēk] -n
- an American Indian confederacy of peoples chiefly of Muskogean stock of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida
- a member of any of the Creek peoples
- the Muskogean language of the Creek Indians
creel ['krēl] -n
- a wicker basket (as for carrying newly caught fish)
- a bar with skewers for holding bobbins in a spinning machine
- to put (caught fish) in a creel
creep ['krēp] -vi
- to move along with the body prone and close to the ground
- to move slowly on hands and knees
- to go very slowly
- to go timidly or cautiously so as to escape notice
- she crept away from the festive scene
- to enter or advance gradually so as to be almost unnoticed
- a note of irritation crept into her voice
- to have the sensation of being covered with creeping things
- the thought made his flesh creep
- to spread or grow over a surface rooting at intervals or clinging with tendrils, stems, or aerial roots
- to slip or gradually shift position
- to change shape permanently from prolonged stress or exposure to high temperatures
- a movement of or like creeping
- traffic moving at a creep
- a distressing sensation like that caused by the creeping of insects over one's flesh
- a feeling of apprehension or horror usu. used in pl. with the
- a feed trough accessible only by young animals and used esp. to supply special or supplementary feed called also creep feeder
- the slow change of dimensions of an object from prolonged exposure to high temperature or stress
- an unpleasant or obnoxious person
- a slow but persistent increase or elevation
- this political inertia...makes budget creep inevitable -- Wall Street Jour.
creep·age ['krē-pij] -n
- gradual movement : creep
creep·er ['krē-pər] -n
- : one that creeps: as
- a creeping plant
- a bird (as of the family Certhiidae) that creeps about on trees or bushes searching for insects
- a creeping insect or reptile
- : any of various devices used for creeping: as
- a fixture with iron points worn on the shoe to prevent slipping
- a low wheeled platform for supporting the body when working under an automobile
- a usu. one-piece garment for a child at the crawling age
creep·ing ['krē-piŋ] -adj
- developing or advancing by slow imperceptible degrees
- a period of creeping inflation
creeping eruption -n
- a skin disorder marked by a spreading red line of eruption and caused esp. by larvae (as of hookworms not normally parasitic in humans) burrowing beneath the human skin
creepy ['krē-pē] -adj, adv, n
- producing a nervous shivery apprehension
- eerie
- of, relating to, or being a creep : annoyingly unpleasant
cre·mains [kri-'mānz] -n pl
- the ashes of a cremated human body
cre·mate ['krē-,māt, kri-'] -vt, n
- to reduce (as a dead body) to ashes by burning
cre·ma·to·ri·um [,krē-mə-'tȯr-ē-əm, ,kre-] -n
- crematory
cre·ma·to·ry ['krē-mə-,tȯr-ē, 'kre-] -n, adj
- a furnace for cremating
- an establishment containing such a furnace
creme ['krem also 'krēm or 'krām] -n
- a sweet liqueur
- cream or a preparation made with or resembling cream used in cooking
- cream
creme an·glaise [-äŋ-'glāz, -aŋ-, -äⁿ-'glez] -n
- a vanilla-flavored custard sauce usu. served with desserts
creme bru·lee [-brᵫ-'lā, -brü-] -n
- a rich custard topped with caramelized sugar
creme car·a·mel [-kä-rə-'mel, or see caramel] -n
- a custard that has been baked with caramel sauce
creme de ca·cao ['krēm-də-'kō-(,)kō; ,krem-də-kə-'kau̇, -kə-'kā-(,)ō] -n
- a sweet brown or colorless liqueur flavored with cacao beans and vanilla
creme de cas·sis [,krem-də-kə-'sēs] -n
- a liqueur made from black currants
creme de la creme ['krem-də-lä-'krem, -lə-] -n
- the very best
creme de menthe ['krem-də-'men(t)th, 'krēm-, -'mint, 'krem-də-'mänt] -n
- a sweet green or colorless mint-flavored liqueur
creme fraiche ['krem-'fresh also 'krēm- or 'krām-] -n
- heavy cream thickened and slightly soured with buttermilk and often served on fruit
cre·mi·ni [kri-'mē-nē] -n
- a meaty cultivated brown or tan mushroom that is of the same variety of button mushroom as the larger and more mature portobello
cre·nate ['krē-,nāt] -adj
- having the margin or surface cut into rounded scallops
cre·na·tion [kri-'nā-shən] -n
- a crenate formation
- one of the rounded projections on an edge (as of a coin)
- the quality or state of being crenate
- shrinkage of red blood cells resulting in crenate margins
cren·el·lat·ed ['kre-nə-,lā-təd] -adj
- having crenellations
cren·el·la·tion [,kre-nə-'lā-shən] -n
- battlement
- any of the embrasures alternating with merlons in a battlement
cren·shaw ['kren-,shȯ] -n
- a winter melon having smooth green and gold skin and sweet salmon-colored flesh
cren·u·lat·ed ['kren-yə-,lā-təd] -adj, n
- having an irregularly wavy or serrate outline
cre·ole ['krē-,ōl] -adj
- of or relating to Creoles or their language
- relating to or being highly seasoned food typically prepared with rice, okra, tomatoes, and peppers
Cre·ole ['krē-,ōl] -n
- a person of European descent born esp. in the West Indies or Spanish America
- a white person descended from early French or Spanish settlers of the U.S. Gulf states and preserving their speech and culture
- a person of mixed French or Spanish and black descent speaking a dialect of French or Spanish
- a language evolved from pidginized French that is spoken by blacks in southern Louisiana
- haitian
- a language that has evolved from a pidgin but serves as the native language of a speech community
cre·ol·ise ['krē-ə-,līz, 'krē-,ō-] -vt, n
(variant of creolize)
- to cause (a pidginized language) to become a creole in a speech community
cre·ol·ize ['krē-ə-,līz, 'krē-,ō-] -vt, n
- to cause (a pidginized language) to become a creole in a speech community
cre·o·sote ['krē-ə-,sōt] -n
- a clear or yellowish flammable oily liquid mixture of phenolic compounds obtained by the distillation of tar derived from wood and esp. from beech wood
- a brownish oily liquid consisting chiefly of aromatic hydrocarbons obtained by distillation of coal tar and used esp. as a wood preservative
- a dark brown or black flammable tar deposited from esp. wood smoke on the walls of a chimney
- creosote bush
creosote -vt
- to treat with creosote
creosote bush -n
- a resinous desert shrub ( Larrea tridentata) of the caltrop family found in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico
crepe ['krāp] -n, adj
- a light crinkled fabric woven of any of various fibers
- crape
- crude rubber in the form of nearly white to brown crinkled sheets used esp. for shoe soles
- a small very thin pancake
crepe de chine [,krāp-də-'shēn] -n
- a soft fine or sheer clothing crepe esp. of silk
crepe myrtle -n
- crape myrtle
crepe paper -n
- paper with a crinkled or puckered texture
crepe su·zette [,krāp-sü-'zet] -n
- a thin folded or rolled pancake in a hot orange-butter sauce that is sprinkled with a liqueur (as cognac or curaao) and set ablaze for serving
crep·i·tant ['kre-pə-tənt] -adj
- having or making a crackling sound
- crepitant sounds in breathing
crep·i·tate ['kre-pə-,tāt] -vi, n
- to make a crackling sound : crackle
cre·pon ['krā-,pän] -n
- a heavy crepe fabric with lengthwise crinkles
crept ['krēp] -vi
(variant of creep)
- to move along with the body prone and close to the ground
- to move slowly on hands and knees
- to go very slowly
- to go timidly or cautiously so as to escape notice
- she crept away from the festive scene
- to enter or advance gradually so as to be almost unnoticed
- a note of irritation crept into her voice
- to have the sensation of being covered with creeping things
- the thought made his flesh creep
- to spread or grow over a surface rooting at intervals or clinging with tendrils, stems, or aerial roots
- to slip or gradually shift position
- to change shape permanently from prolonged stress or exposure to high temperatures
- a movement of or like creeping
- traffic moving at a creep
- a distressing sensation like that caused by the creeping of insects over one's flesh
- a feeling of apprehension or horror usu. used in pl. with the
- a feed trough accessible only by young animals and used esp. to supply special or supplementary feed called also creep feeder
- the slow change of dimensions of an object from prolonged exposure to high temperature or stress
- an unpleasant or obnoxious person
- a slow but persistent increase or elevation
- this political inertia...makes budget creep inevitable -- Wall Street Jour.
cre·pus·cu·lar [kri-'pəs-kyə-lər] -adj
- of, relating to, or resembling twilight : dim
- occurring or active during twilight
cre·pus·cule [kri-'pəs-(,)kyül] -n
- twilight
cresc -abbr
- crescendo
cre·scen·do [krə-'shen-(,)dō] -n, vi
- a gradual increase
- a gradual increase in volume of a musical passage
- the peak of a gradual increase : climax
- complaints about stifling smog conditions reach a crescendo -- Down Beat
- a crescendo musical passage
crescendo -adv or adj
- with an increase in volume used as a direction in music
cres·cent ['kre-sᵊnt] -n, adj
- the moon at any stage between new moon and first quarter and between last quarter and the succeeding new moon when less than half of the illuminated hemisphere is visible
- the figure of the moon at such a stage defined by a convex and a concave edge
- something shaped like a crescent
crescent -adj
- marked by an increase : increasing
- my powers are crescent -- Shak.
Cres·cent ['kre-sᵊnt] -trademark
- used for an adjustable open-end wrench
cres·cive ['kre-siv] -adj, adv
- marked by gradual spontaneous development
cre·sol ['krē-,sȯl, -,sōl] -n
- any of three poisonous colorless crystalline or liquid isomeric phenols C 7H 8O
cress ['kres] -n
- : any of various crucifers with moderately pungent leaves used esp. in salads: as
- a watercress ( Nasturtium officinale)
- garden cress
cres·set ['kre-sət] -n
- an iron vessel or basket used for holding an illuminant (as oil) and mounted as a torch or suspended as a lantern
Cres·si·da ['kre-sə-də] -n
- a Trojan woman of medieval legend who pledges herself to Troilus but while a captive of the Greeks gives herself to Diomedes
crest ['krest] -n, adj
- a showy tuft or process on the head of an animal and esp. a bird
- the plume or identifying emblem worn on a knight's helmet
- the top of a helmet
- a heraldic representation of the crest
- a heraldic device depicted above the escutcheon but not upon a helmet
- coat of arms
- a ridge or prominence on a part of an animal body
- : something suggesting a crest esp. in being an upper prominence, edge, or limit: as
- peak
- the top line of a mountain or hill
- the ridge of a roof
- the top of a wave
- a high point of an action or process and esp. of one that is rhythmic
- climax, culmination
- to furnish with a crest
- crown
- to reach the crest of
- crest ed the hill and looked around
- to rise to a crest
- waves crest ing in the storm
crest·ed ['kres-təd] -adj
- having a crest
crested wheatgrass -n
- either of two Eurasian grasses ( Agropyron cristatumor A. desertorumsyn. A. sibiricum) that are grown in the U.S. for forage and for erosion control
crest·fall·en ['krest-,fȯ-lən] -adj, adv, n
- having a drooping crest or hanging head
- feeling shame or humiliation : dejected
crest·ing ['kres-tiŋ] -n
- a decorative edging or railing (as on pottery or furniture)
Cre·ta·ceous [kri-'tā-shəs] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or being the last period of the Mesozoic era characterized by continued dominance of reptiles, emergent dominance of angiosperms, diversification of mammals, and the extinction of many types of organisms at the close of the period
- of, relating to, or being the corresponding system of rocks
cre·tin ['krē-tᵊn] -n, adj
- one afflicted with cretinism
- a stupid, vulgar, or insensitive person : clod, lout
cre·tin·ism [-tᵊn-,i-zəm] -n
- a usu. congenital abnormal condition marked by physical stunting and mental retardation and caused by severe hypothyroidism
cre·tonne ['krē-,tän, kri-'] -n
- a strong cotton or linen cloth used esp. for curtains and upholstery
Creutz·feldtJa·kob disease ['krȯits-,felt-'yä-(,)kōb-] -n
- a rare progressive fatal encephalopathy caused by a prion and marked by development of porous brain tissue, premature dementia in middle age, and gradual loss of muscular coordination
cre·val·le [kri-'va-lē] -n
- any of several carangid fishes (genus Caranx)
- jack crevalle
cre·vasse [kri-'vas] -n
- a breach in a levee
- a deep crevice or fissure (as in a glacier or the earth)
crev·ice ['kre-vəs] -n
- a narrow opening resulting from a split or crack (as in a cliff) : fissure
crew ['krō] -n
(variant of crow)
- any of various large usu. entirely glossy black passerine birds (family Corvidae and esp. genus Corvus)
- a member of an American Indian people of the region between the Platte and Yellowstone rivers
- the language of the Crow people
- corvus
- humble pie
- the braggart was forced to eat crow
- to make the loud shrill sound characteristic of a cock
- to utter a sound expressive of pleasure
- to exult gloatingly esp. over the distress of another
- to brag exultantly or blatantly
- to say with self-satisfaction
- the cry of the cock
- a triumphant cry
crew chief -n
- one who is in charge of a crew of workers
- a noncommissioned officer (as in the air force) who supervises an airplane's ground crew
crew cut -n
- a very short haircut usu. for men or boys in which the hair resembles the bristle surface of a brush
crew·el ['krü-əl] -n
- slackly twisted worsted yarn used for embroidery
- crewelwork
crew·el·work [-,wərk] -n
- embroidery work with crewel
crew·man ['krü-mən] -n
- a member of a crew
crew·mate [-,māt] -n
- a fellow crewman
crew neck ['krü-,nek] -n
- a round collarless neckline
- a sweater with a crew neck
crew sock -n
- a short bulky usu. ribbed sock
crib ['krib] -n
- a manger for feeding animals
- : an enclosure esp. of framework: as
- a stall for a stabled animal
- a small child's bedstead with high enclosing usu. slatted sides
- any of various devices resembling a crate or framework in structure
- a building for storage : bin
- a small narrow room or dwelling : hut, shack
- a room or shack used for prostitution
- the cards discarded in cribbage for the dealer to use in scoring
- a small theft
- plagiarism
- a literal translation
- pony
- a summary and key to understanding a literary work
- something used for cheating in an examination
- creche
- confine, cramp
- to provide with or put into a crib
- to line or support with a framework of timber
- pilfer, steal
- plagiarize
- steal, plagiarize
- to use a crib : cheat
- to have the vice of cribbing
crib·bage ['kri-bij] -n
- a card game for two players in which each player tries to form various counting combinations of cards
crib·bing ['kri-biŋ] -n
- material for use in making a crib
- a vice of horses in which they grasp a solid object (as a stall door) with their teeth and gulp air
crib biting -n
- cribbing
crib death -n
- sudden infant death syndrome
crib·ri·form ['kri-brə-,fȯrm] -adj
- pierced with small holes
crib sheet -n
- cheat sheet
cri·ce·tid [krī-'sē-təd, -'se-] -n, adj
- any of a family (Cricetidae) of small rodents including the hamsters, voles, lemmings, gerbils, and New World rats and mice that are often grouped with the murids
crick ['krik] -n
- a painful spasmodic condition of muscles (as of the neck or back)
- to cause a crick in (as the neck)
- to turn or twist (as the head) esp. into a strained position
crick·et ['kri-kət] -n
- any of a family (Gryllidae) of leaping orthopteran insects noted for the chirping notes produced by the male by rubbing together specially modified parts of the forewings
- a low wooden footstool
- a small metal toy or signaling device that makes a sharp click or snap when pressed
cricket -n
- a game played with a ball and bat by two sides of usu. 11 players each on a large field centering upon two wickets each defended by a batsman
- fair and honorable behavior
- it wasn't cricket for her to break her contract -- Gerry Nadel
- to play the game of cricket
cri·coid ['krī-,kȯid] -adj
- of, relating to, or being a cartilage of the larynx with which arytenoid cartilages articulate
cri de coeur [,krē-də-'kər] -n
- a passionate outcry (as of appeal or protest)
cri·er ['krī(-ə)r] -n
- : one that cries:
- an officer who proclaims the orders of a court
- town crier
cri·key ['krī-kē] -interj
- used as a mild oath
crim -abbr
- criminal
crim con -abbr
- criminal conversation
crime ['krīm] -n, adj
- an act or the commission of an act that is forbidden or the omission of a duty that is commanded by a public law and that makes the offender liable to punishment by that law
- a gross violation of law
- a grave offense esp. against morality
- criminal activity
- something reprehensible, foolish, or disgraceful
- it's a crime to waste good food
crime against humanity
- atrocity (as extermination or enslavement) that is directed esp. against an entire population or part of a population on specious grounds and without regard to individual guilt or responsibility even on such grounds
crime against nature
- sodomy
crim·i·nal ['kri-mə-nᵊl, 'krim-nəl] -adj, adv
- relating to, involving, or being a crime
- relating to crime or to the prosecution of suspects in a crime
- guilty of crime
- of or befitting a criminal
- disgraceful
criminal -n
- one who has committed a crime
- a person who has been convicted of a crime
criminal conversation -n
- adultery considered as a tort
criminal court -n
- a court that has jurisdiction to try and punish offenders against criminal law
crim·i·nal·ist ['kri-mə-nᵊl-ist] -n
- a specialist in criminalistics
crim·i·nal·is·tics [,kri-mə-nᵊl-'is-tiks, ,krim-nə-'lis-] -n pl but sing in constr
- application of scientific techniques in collecting and analyzing physical evidence in criminal cases
crim·i·nal·i·ty [,kri-mə-'na-lə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being criminal
- criminal activity
crim·i·nal·ize ['kri-mə-nᵊl-,īz, 'krim-nə-,līz] -vt, n
- to make illegal : outlaw
- to turn into a criminal or treat as criminal
criminal law -n
- the law of crimes and their punishments
criminal lawyer -n
- a lawyer who specializes in criminal law
- a lawyer who represents defendants in criminal cases
crim·i·nate ['kri-mə-,nāt] -vt, n
- incriminate
crimini [kri-'mē-nē] -n
(variant of cremini)
- a meaty cultivated brown or tan mushroom that is of the same variety of button mushroom as the larger and more mature portobello
crim·i·nol·o·gy [,kri-mə-'nä-lə-jē] -n, adj, adv
- the scientific study of crime as a social phenomenon, of criminals, and of penal treatment
crim·i·nous ['kri-mə-nəs] -adj
- criminal
crim·i·ny ['kri-mə-nē, 'krī-] -interj
- used as a mild oath or to express surprise
crimp ['krimp] -vt, n
- : to cause to become wavy, bent, or pinched: as
- to form (leather) into a desired shape
- to give (synthetic fibers) a curl or wave like that of natural fibers
- to pinch or press together (as the margins of a pie crust) in order to seal
- to be an inhibiting or restraining influence on : cramp
- sales had been crimp ed by credit controls -- Time
- : something produced by or as if by crimping: as
- a section of hair artificially waved or curled
- a succession of waves (as in wool fiber)
- a bend or crease formed in something
- something that cramps or inhibits : restraint, curb
- a person who entraps or forces men into shipping as sailors or into enlisting in an army or navy
- to trap into military or sea service : impress
crimpy ['krim-pē] -adj
- frizzy
crim·son ['krim-zən] -n
- any of several deep purplish reds
crimson -adj
- of the color crimson
- to make crimson
- to become crimson
- blush
crimson clover -n
- an annual European clover ( Trifolium incarnatum) that has cylindrical heads of crimson flowers and is cultivated in the U.S. esp. as a cover crop
cringe ['krinj] -vi, n
- to draw in or contract one's muscles involuntarily (as from cold or pain)
- to shrink in fear or servility
- to behave in an excessively humble or servile way
- to recoil in distaste
- Americans cringed ...at the use of a term now regarded as a slur -- William Safire
- a cringing act
- a servile bow
crin·gle ['kriŋ-gəl] -n
- a loop or grommet at the corner of a sail to which a line is attached
crin·kle ['kriŋ-kəl] -vb
- to form many short bends or ripples
- wrinkle
- to give forth a thin crackling sound : rustle
- to cause to crinkle : make crinkles in
crinkle [-k(ə-)lē] -n, adj
- wrinkle, corrugation, pucker
- any of several virus diseases of plants marked by crinkling of leaves
cri·noid ['krī-,nȯid] -n, adj
- any of a large class (Crinoidea) of echinoderms usu. having a somewhat cup-shaped body with five or more feathery arms
crin·o·line ['kri-nə-lən] -n, adj
- an open-weave fabric of horsehair or cotton that is usu. stiffened and used esp. for interlinings and millinery
- a full stiff skirt or underskirt made of crinoline
- hoopskirt
cri·o·llo [krē-'ōl-(,)yō, -'ō-(,)yō] -n, adj
- a person of pure Spanish descent born in Spanish America
- a person born and usu. raised in a Spanish-American country
- a domestic animal of a breed or strain (as of cattle) developed in Latin America
- any of a breed of hardy muscular ponies orig. developed in Argentina
cripes ['krīps] -interj
- used as a mild oath
crip·ple ['kri-pəl] -n
- a lame or partly disabled person or animal
- one that is disabled or deficient in a specified manner
- something flawed or imperfect
cripple -adj
- being lame, flawed, or imperfect
- to deprive of the use of a limb and esp. a leg
- the accident left him crippled
- to deprive of capability for service or of strength, efficiency, or wholeness
- an economy crippled by inflation
cri·sis ['krī-səs] -n
- the turning point for better or worse in an acute disease or fever
- a paroxysmal attack of pain, distress, or disordered function
- an emotionally significant event or radical change of status in a person's life
- the decisive moment (as in a literary plot)
- an unstable or crucial time or state of affairs in which a decisive change is impending
- one with the distinct possibility of a highly undesirable outcome
- a situation that has reached a critical phase
crisp ['krisp] -adj, adv, n
- curly, wavy
- having close stiff or wiry curls or waves
- easily crumbled : brittle
- desirably firm and crunchy
- notably sharp, clean-cut, and clear
- concise and to the point
- noticeably neat
- brisk, lively
- briskly cold
- fresh, invigorating
- deftly and powerfully executed
- curl, crimp
- to cause to ripple : wrinkle
- to make or keep crisp
- curl
- ripple
- to become crisp
- something crisp or brittle
- potato chip usu. used in pl.
- a baked dessert of fruit with crumb topping
crisp·bread ['krisp-,bred] -n
- a plain dry unsweetened cracker made from crushed grain (as wheat or rye)
crisp·en ['kris-pən] -vt
- to make crisp
- to become crisp
crisp·er ['kris-pər] -n
- one that crisps
- a closed container in a refrigerator intended to prevent loss of moisture from fresh produce
crisp·head ['krisp-,hed] -n
- iceberg lettuce
crispy ['kris-pē] -adj, n
- crisp
- appealingly crunchy : crisp
criss·cross ['kris-,krȯs] -vb
- to mark with intersecting lines
- to pass back and forth through or over
- to go or pass back and forth
- overlap, intersect
crisscross -adj, adv
- marked or characterized by crisscrossing
- a crisscross pattern : network
- the state of being at cross-purposes
- a confused state
cris·ta ['kris-tə] -n
- any of the inwardly projecting folds of the inner membrane of a mitochondrion
crit -abbr
- critical; criticism; criticized
cri·te·ri·on [krī-'tir-ē-ən also krə-] -n
- a standard on which a judgment or decision may be based
- a characterizing mark or trait
cri·te·ri·um [krī-'tir-ē-əm, krē-ter-'yȯm] -n
- a bicycle race of a specified number of laps on a closed course over public roads closed to normal traffic
crit·ic ['kri-tik] -n
- one who expresses a reasoned opinion on any matter esp. involving a judgment of its value, truth, righteousness, beauty, or technique
- one who engages often professionally in the analysis, evaluation, or appreciation of works of art or artistic performances
- one given to harsh or captious judgment
critic -n
- criticism
- critique
crit·i·cal ['kri-ti-kəl] -adj, n, adv
- : of, relating to, or being a turning point or specially important juncture: as
- relating to or being the stage of a disease at which an abrupt change for better or worse may be expected
- being or relating to an illness or condition involving danger of death
- a patient listed in critical condition
- relating to or being a state in which or a measurement or point at which some quality, property, or phenomenon suffers a definite change
- crucial, decisive
- indispensable, vital
- a critical waterfowl habitat
- a component critical to the operation of a machine
- being in or approaching a state of crisis
- inclined to criticize severely and unfavorably
- consisting of or involving criticism
- of or relating to the judgment of critics
- the play was a critical success
- exercising or involving careful judgment or judicious evaluation
- including variant readings and scholarly emendations
- of sufficient size to sustain a chain reaction used of a mass of fissionable material
- sustaining a nuclear chain reaction
- the reactor went critical
critical angle -n
- the least angle of incidence at which total reflection takes place
critical mass -n
- a size, number, or amount large enough to produce a particular result
- the critical mass of activity needed for a retail store
critical point -n
- a point on the graph of a function where the derivative is zero or infinite
critical region -n
- the set of outcomes of a statistical test for which the null hypothesis is to be rejected
critical value -n
- the value of an independent variable corresponding to a critical point of a function
crit·ic·as·ter ['kri-ti-,kas-tər] -n
- an inferior or petty critic
crit·i·cise ['kri-tə-,sīz] -vb, adj, n
(variant of criticize)
- to act as a critic
- to consider the merits and demerits of and judge accordingly : evaluate
- to find fault with : point out the faults of
crit·i·cism ['kri-tə-,si-zəm] -n
- the act of criticizing usu. unfavorably
- seeking encouragement rather than criticism
- a critical observation or remark
- critique
- the art of evaluating or analyzing works of art or literature
- writings expressing such evaluation or analysis
- an anthology of literary criticism
- the scientific investigation of literary documents (as the Bible) in regard to such matters as origin, text, composition, or history
crit·i·cize ['kri-tə-,sīz] -vb, adj, n
- to act as a critic
- to consider the merits and demerits of and judge accordingly : evaluate
- to find fault with : point out the faults of
cri·tique [krə-'tēk, kri-] -n
- an act of criticizing
- a critical estimate or discussion
- a critique of the poet's work
critique -vt
- to examine critically : review
crit·ter ['kri-tər] -n
- creature
CRNA -abbr
- certified registered nurse anesthetist
croak ['krōk] -vb
- to make a deep harsh sound
- to speak in a hoarse throaty voice
- grumble
- die
- to utter in a hoarse raucous voice
- kill
- a hoarse harsh cry or sound
croak·er ['krō-kər] -n
- an animal (as a frog) that croaks
- any of various fishes and esp. the drums that produce croaking, drumming, or grunting noises
- doctor
Croat ['krō-,at also 'krō(-ə)t] -n, adj
- croatian
Cro·a·tian [krō-'ā-shən] -n, adj
- a native or inhabitant of Croatia
- a south Slavic language spoken by the Croatian people
croc ['kräk] -n
- crocodile
cro·chet [krō-'shā] -n
- needlework consisting of the interlocking of looped stitches formed with a single thread and a hooked needle
crochet [-'shā-ər] -vt, n
- to make of crochet
- to work with crochet
cro·cid·o·lite [krō-'si-də-,līt] -n
- a lavender-blue or light green mineral of the amphibole group that occurs in silky fibers and in massive form and is a type of asbestos
crock ['kräk] -n
- a thick earthenware pot or jar
- soot, smut
- coloring matter that rubs off from cloth or dyed leather
- bunkum usu. used with a
- the story in the paper is a crock
- to put or preserve in a crock
- to soil with crock : smudge
- to transfer color (as when rubbed or washed)
- a suede that will not crock
- one that is broken-down, disabled, or impaired
- so many old...crock s with one foot in the grave -- Angus Wilson
- a complaining medical patient whose illness is largely imaginary or psychosomatic
- to cause to become disabled
- break down
crocked ['kräkt] -adj
- drunk
crock·ery ['krä-k(ə-)rē] -n
- earthenware
crock·et ['krä-kət] -n, adj
- an ornament usu. in the form of curved and bent foliage used on the edge of a gable or spire
CrockPot ['kräk-,pät] -trademark
- used for an electric cooking pot
croc·o·dile ['krä-kə-,dī(-ə)l] -n
- any of several large carnivorous thick-skinned long-bodied aquatic reptiles (family Crocodylidae) of tropical and subtropical waters
- crocodilian
- the skin or hide of a crocodile
- a line of people (as schoolchildren) usu. walking in pairs
crocodile bird -n
- an African bird ( Pluvianus aegyptius) that is related to the pratincoles and lights on the crocodile and eats its insect parasites
crocodile tears -n pl
- false or affected tears
- hypocritical sorrow
croc·o·dil·ian [,krä-kə-'di-lē-ən, -'dil-yən] -n, adj
- any of an order (Crocodylia) of reptiles including the crocodiles, alligators, caimans, gharials, and related extinct forms
cro·cus ['krō-kəs] -n
- any of a genus ( Crocus) of herbs of the iris family developing from corms and having solitary long-tubed flowers and slender linear leaves
- saffron
- a dark red ferric oxide used for polishing metals
Croe·sus ['krē-səs] -n
- a very rich man
croft ['krȯft] -n
- a small enclosed field usu. adjoining a house
- a small farm worked by a tenant
Crohn's disease ['krōnz-] -n
- a chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract that typically involves the distal portion of the ileum and is characterized by cramping and diarrhea
crois·sant [krȯ-'sänt, krə-; krwä-'säⁿ] -n
- a flaky rich crescent-shaped roll
Croix de Guerre [,krwä-di-'ger] -n
- a French military decoration awarded for gallant action in war
cro·ker sack ['krō-kər-] -n
- a sack of a coarse material (as burlap)
CroMa·gnon [krō-'mag-nən, -'man-yən] -n
- a hominid of a tall erect race of the Upper Paleolithic known from skeletal remains found chiefly in southern France and classified as the same species ( Homo sapiens) as present-day humans
crom·lech ['kräm-,lek] -n
- dolmen
- a circle of monoliths usu. enclosing a dolmen or mound
crone ['krōn] -n
- a withered old woman
Cro·nus ['krō-nəs, 'krä-] -n
- a Titan dethroned by his son Zeus
cro·ny ['krō-nē] -n
- a close friend esp. of long standing : pal
cro·ny·ism [-nē-,i-zəm] -n
- partiality to cronies esp. as evidenced in the appointment of political hangers-on to office without regard to their qualifications
crook ['kru̇k] -vt
- bend
- curve, wind
- : an implement having a bent or hooked form: as
- pothook
- a shepherd's staff
- crosier
- a part of something that is hook-shaped, curved, or bent
- the crook of an umbrella handle
- bend, curve
- a person who engages in fraudulent or criminal practices
- : not right:
- unsatisfactory
- dishonest, crooked
- irritable, angry used esp. in the phrase go crook
- ill, unwell
crook·back ['kru̇k-,bak] -n, adj
- a crooked back
- hunchback
crook·ed ['kru̇-kəd] -adj, adv, n
- not straight
- dishonest
crook·ery ['kru̇-kə-rē] -n
- crooked dealings or practices
crook·neck ['kru̇k-,nek] -n
- a squash with a long recurved neck
croon ['krün] -vb, n
- bellow, boom
- to sing or speak in a gentle murmuring manner
- to sing in a soft intimate manner adapted to amplifying systems
- to sing (as a popular song or a lullaby) in a crooning manner
croon·er ['krü-nər] -n
- one that croons
- a singer of popular songs
crop ['kräp] -n
- a pouched enlargement of the gullet of many birds that serves as a receptacle for food and for its preliminary maceration
- an enlargement of the gullet of another animal (as an insect)
- a plant or animal or plant or animal product that can be grown and harvested extensively for profit or subsistence
- the total yearly production from a specified area
- the product or yield of something formed together
- a batch or lot of something produced during a particular cycle
- the current crop of films
- collection
- the stock or handle of a whip
- a riding whip with a short straight stock and a loop
- the part of the chine of a quadruped (as a domestic cow) lying immediately behind the withers usu. used in pl.
- an earmark on an animal
- one made by a straight cut squarely removing the upper part of the ear
- a close cut of the hair
- to remove the upper or outer parts of
- harvest
- to cut off short : trim
- to cause (land) to bear a crop
- planned to crop another 40 acres
- to grow as a crop
- to feed by cropping something
- to yield or make a crop
- to appear unexpectedly or casually
crop circle -n
- a geometric and esp. a circular pattern of flattened stalks in a field of grain now usu. attributed to natural phenomena or to the work of hoaxers trying to create the impression of a visit by extraterrestrial beings
crop duster -n
- a person who sprays crops with fungicidal or insecticidal dusts from an airplane
- the airplane used for such spraying
cropeared ['kräp-,ird] -adj
- having the ears cropped
crop·land [-,land] -n
- land that is suited to or used for crops
crop·per ['krä-pər] -n
- one that crops
- one that raises crops
- sharecropper
cropper -n
- a severe fall
- a sudden or violent failure or collapse
crop rotation -n
- the practice of growing different crops in succession on the same land chiefly to preserve the productive capacity of the soil
cro·quet [krō-'kā] -n, vt
- a game in which players using mallets drive wooden balls through a series of wickets set out on a lawn
- the act of driving away an opponent's croquet ball by striking one's own ball placed against it
cro·quette [krō-'ket] -n
- a small often rounded mass consisting usu. of minced meat, fish, or vegetable coated with egg and bread crumbs and deep-fried
cro·qui·gnole ['krō-kə-,nōl also -kən-,yōl] -n
- a method used in waving the hair by winding it on curlers from the ends of the hair toward the scalp
cro·quis [krō-'kē] -n
- a rough draft : sketch
crore ['krȯr] -n
- a unit of value equal to ten million rupees or 100 lakhs
cro·sier ['krō-zhər] -n
- a staff resembling a shepherd's crook carried by bishops and abbots as a symbol of office
- a plant structure with a coiled end
cross ['krȯs] -n
- a structure consisting of an upright with a transverse beam used esp. by the ancient Romans for execution
- the cross on which Jesus was crucified
- crucifixion
- an affliction that tries one's virtue, steadfastness, or patience
- a cruciform sign made to invoke the blessing of Christ esp. by touching the forehead, breast, and shoulders
- a device composed of an upright bar traversed by a horizontal one
- one used as a Christian symbol
- the Christian religion
- a structure (as a monument) shaped like or surmounted by a cross
- a figure or mark formed by two intersecting lines crossing at their midpoints
- such a mark used as a signature
- a cruciform badge, emblem, or decoration
- the intersection of two ways or lines : crossing
- annoyance, thwarting
- an act of crossing dissimilar individuals
- a crossbred individual or kind
- one that combines characteristics of two different types or individuals
- a fraudulent or dishonest contest
- dishonest or illegal practices used esp. in the phrase on the cross
- a movement from one part of a theater stage to another
- a punch thrown over the opponent's lead in boxing
- an attacking pass in soccer played across the field from one side to the other or to the middle
- a security transaction in which a broker acts for both buyer and seller (as in the placing of a large lot of common stock) called also cross-trade
- to lie or be situated across
- intersect
- to make the sign of the cross upon or over
- to cancel by marking a cross on or drawing a line through : strike out
- to place or fold crosswise one over the other
- to run counter to : oppose
- to deny the validity of : contradict
- to confront in a troublesome manner : obstruct
- to spoil completely : disrupt used with up
- his failure to appear cross ed up the whole program
- to turn against : betray
- cross ed me up on the deal
- to extend across or over : traverse
- a highway cross ing the entire state
- reach, attain
- only two cross ed the finish line
- to go from one side of to the other
- to draw a line across
- to mark or figure with lines : streak
- to cause (an animal or plant) to interbreed with one of a different kind : hybridize
- to meet and pass on the way
- our letters must have cross ed each other
- to occur to
- it never cross ed my mind
- to carry or take across something
- cross ed the children at the intersection
- to move, pass, or extend across something
- cross ed over to the other side of the river
- to move or pass from one character, condition, or allegiance to another used with over
- cross ing over to vote for another party's candidate
- a musician who has cross ed over from country to pop
- to lie or be athwart each other
- to meet in passing esp. from opposite directions
- interbreed, hybridize
- lying across or athwart
- moving across
- running counter : opposite
- mutually opposed
- involving mutual interchange : reciprocal
- marked by typically transitory bad temper
- extending over or treating several groups, conditions, or classes
- a cross sample from 25 colleges
- crossbred, hybrid
- across
- not parallel : crisscross, crosswise
cross·abil·i·ty [,krȯ-sə-'bi-lə-tē] -n
- the ability of different species or varieties to cross with each other
cross·able ['krȯ-sə-bəl] -adj
- capable of being crossed
cross action -n
- a legal action in which the defendant in an existing action files a suit against the plaintiff on the same subject matter : countersuit
cross·band·ing ['krȯs-,ban-diŋ] -n, adj
- a veneer border (as on furniture) with its grain at right angles to the grain of the adjacent wood
cross·bar ['krȯs-,bär] -n
- a transverse bar or stripe
cross·beam [-,bēm] -n
- a transverse beam
cross·bear·er ['krȯs-,ber-ər] -n
- crucifer
cross·bill [-,bil] -n
- any of a genus ( Loxiaof the family Fringillidae) of finches with curved mandibles that cross each other
cross·bones [-,bōnz] -n pl
- two leg or arm bones placed or depicted crosswise
cross·bow [-,bō] -n
- a weapon for shooting quarrels and stones that consists chiefly of a short bow mounted crosswise near the end of a stock
cross·bow·man [-mən] -n
- a person (as a soldier or a hunter) whose weapon is a crossbow
cross·bred ['krȯs-'bred] -adj, n
- produced by crossbreeding : hybrid
cross·breed ['krȯs-,brēd, -'brēd] -vb
- hybridize, cross
- to cross (two varieties or breeds) within the same species
- to engage in or undergo hybridization
- hybrid
crosscheck [-,chek] -vt
- to obstruct in ice hockey or lacrosse by thrusting one's stick held in both hands across an opponent's face or body
- to check (as data or reports) from various angles or sources to determine validity or accuracy
- an act or instance of cross-checking
crossclaim [-,klām] -n
- a claim against a party on the same side of a legal action
crosscoun·try ['krȯs-'kən-trē, -,kən-] -adj, adv
- extending or moving across a country
- a crosscountry concert tour
- proceeding over countryside (as across fields and through woods) and not by roads
- of or relating to racing or skiing over the countryside instead of over a track or run
crosscountry -n
- cross-country racing or skiing
cross·court ['krȯs-kȯrt] -adv or adj
- to or toward the opposite side of a court (as in tennis or basketball)
crosscul·tur·al ['krȯs-'kəlch-rəl, -'kəl-chə-] -adj, adv
- dealing with or offering comparison between two or more different cultures or cultural areas
cross·cur·rent ['krȯs-,kər-ənt, -,kə-rənt] -n
- a current running counter to the general forward direction
- a conflicting tendency usu. used in pl.
cross·cut ['krȯs-,kət, -'kət] -vt
- to cut, go, or move across or through
- to cut with a crosscut saw
- to subject (as movie scenes) to crosscutting
crosscut -adj
- made or used for cutting transversely
- a saw with crosscut teeth
- cut across or transversely
cross·cut ['krȯs-,kət] -n
- something that cuts across or through
- a mine working driven horizontally and at right angles to an adit, drift, or level
- cross section
- crosscut saw
- an instance of crosscutting (as in a movie)
crosscut saw -n
- a saw designed chiefly to cut across the grain of wood
cross·cut·ting ['krȯs-,kə-tiŋ] -n
- a technique esp. in filmmaking of interweaving bits of two or more separate scenes
crossdress·ing ['krȯs-,dre-siŋ] -n, vi
- the wearing of clothes designed for the opposite sex
crosse ['krȯs] -n
- a stick with a small net at one end that is used in lacrosse
crossex·am·i·na·tion ['krȯs-ig-,za-mə-'nā-shən] -n, vt
- the examination of a witness who has already testified in order to check or discredit the witness's testimony, knowledge, or credibility
crosseye ['krȯs-,ī] -n, adj
- strabismus in which the eye turns inward toward the nose
- eyes affected with cross-eye
crossfer·tile ['krȯs-'fər-tᵊl, -,fər-] -adj
- fertile in a cross or capable of cross-fertilization
crossfer·til·i·za·tion [-,fər-tə-lə-'zā-shən] -n
- fertilization in which the gametes are produced by separate individuals or sometimes by individuals of different kinds
- cross-pollination
- interchange or interaction (as between different ideas, cultures, or categories) esp. of a broadening or productive nature
crossfer·til·ize [-'fər-tə-,līz] -vt
- to accomplish cross-fertilization of
- to undergo cross-fertilization
crossfile [-'fī(-ə)l] -vi
- to register as a candidate in the primary elections of more than one political party
- to register (a person) as a candidate for more than one party
cross fire -n
- firing (as in combat) from two or more points so that the lines of fire cross
- a situation wherein the forces of opposing factions meet, cross, or clash
- caught in a political cross fire
- rapid or heated exchange of words
crossgrained ['krȯs-,grānd] -adj
- difficult to deal with
- her husband's self-absorbed and crossgrained nature -- Lance Morrow
- having the grain or fibers running diagonally, transversely, or irregularly
cross·hair [-,her] -n
- a fine wire or thread in the focus of the eyepiece of an optical instrument used as a reference line in the field or for marking the instrumental axis used figuratively to describe someone or something being targeted as if through an aiming device having crosshairs
- ...in the crosshair s this political season -- J. H. Alter
cross·hatch ['krȯs-,hach] -vt, n
- to mark with two series of parallel lines that intersect
cross·head [-,hed] -n
- a metal block to which one end of a piston rod is secured
- a heading centered usu. between portions of text
crossin·dex ['krȯs-'in-,deks] -vt, n
- to index (an item) under a second or under more than one heading
- to supply (as a book) with a cross-referenced index
cross·ing ['krȯ-siŋ] -n
- : the act or action of crossing: as
- a traversing or traveling across
- an opposing, blocking, or thwarting esp. in an unfair or dishonest manner
- a place or structure (as on a street or over a river) where pedestrians or vehicles cross
- crosswalk
- the place in a cruciform church where the transept crosses the nave
- a place where a railroad track crosses a street
cross·ingover [,krȯ-siŋ-'ō-vər] -n
- an interchange of genes or segments between homologous chromosomes
crosslegged ['krȯs-,le-gəd, -,lā-; -,legd, -,lāgd] -adv or adj
- with legs crossed and knees spread wide apart
- with one leg placed over and across the other
cross·let ['krȯs-lət] -n
- a small cross usu. with crossed arms
- one used as a heraldic bearing
cross·lin·guis·tic [-liŋ-'gwis-tik] -adj, adv
- of or relating to languages of different families and types
- relating to the comparison of different languages
crosslink ['krȯs-,liŋk] -n, vb
- a crosswise connecting part (as an atom or group) that connects parallel chains in a complex chemical molecule (as a polymer)
crosslink·age ['krȯs-'liŋ-kij] -n
- the process of forming cross-links
- cross-link
cross multiply -vi, n
- to clear an equation of fractions when each side consists of a fraction with a single denominator by multiplying the numerator of each side by the denominator of the other side and equating the two products obtained
crossna·tion·al ['krȯs-'nash-nəl, -'na-shə-nᵊl] -adj
- of or relating to two or more nations
cross of Lor·raine [-lə-'rān, -lȯ-]
- a cross with two crossbars the lower one of which is longer than the upper one and intersects the upright below its center
- patriarchal cross
cros·sop·ter·yg·ian [,krȯ-,säp-tə-'ri-j(ē-)ən] -n, adj
- any of a subclass (Crossopterygii) of bony fishes (as a coelacanth) that have paired fins suggesting limbs, that may be ancestral to the terrestrial vertebrates, and that are mostly extinct called also lobe-fin
cross·over ['krȯs-,ō-vər] -n
- crossing
- an instance or product of genetic crossing-over
- a voter registered as a member of one political party who votes in the primary of the other party
- a broadening of the popular appeal of an artist (as a musician) that is often the result of a change of the artist's medium or style
- an artist or artistic work that has achieved a crossover
- an instance of breaking into another category
- a basketball maneuver in which a player dribbles the ball quickly from one hand to the other
crossover -adj
- having two pieces that cross esp. one over the other
- critical
cross over -vi
- to reach a broader audience by a change of medium or style
- a country singer crossing over to the pop charts
crossown·er·ship [-'ō-nər-,ship] -n
- single ownership of two or more related businesses (as a newspaper and a television station) that allows the owner to control competition
cross·patch ['krȯs-,pach] -n
- grouch
cross·piece ['krȯs-,pēs] -n
- a horizontal member (as of a structure)
crosspol·li·nate ['krȯs-'pä-lə-,nāt] -vt
- to subject to cross-pollination
crosspol·li·na·tion [,krȯs-,pä-lə-'nā-shən] -n
- the transfer of pollen from one flower to the stigma of another
- cross-fertilization
- crosspollination of fantasy and realism
cross product -n
- vector product
- either of the two products obtained by multiplying the two means or the two extremes of a proportion
crosspur·pose ['krȯs-'pər-pəs] -n
- a purpose usu. unintentionally contrary to another purpose of oneself or of someone or something else usu. used in pl.
- the two were always working at crosspurpose s
crossques·tion ['krȯs-'kwes-chən, -'kwesh-] -n, vt
- a question asked in cross-examination
crossre·ac·tion [,krȯs-rē-'ak-shən] -n, vi, adj
- reaction of one antigen with antibodies developed against another antigen
crossre·fer [,krȯs-ri-'fər] -vt
- to refer (a reader) by a notation or direction from one place to another (as in a book, list, or catalog)
- to make a cross-reference
crossref·er·ence ['krȯs-'re-fərn(t)s, -'re-f(ə-)rən(t)s] -n
- a notation or direction at one place (as in a book or filing system) to pertinent information at another place
crossreference -vt
- to supply with cross-references
- to research, verify, or organize by means of cross-references
- crossreference information
crossre·sis·tance [,krȯs-ri-'zis-tən(t)s] -n
- tolerance (as of a virus) to a usu. toxic substance (as an antibiotic) that is acquired not as a result of direct exposure but by exposure to a related substance
cross·road ['krȯs-,rōd also -'rōd] -n
- a road that crosses a main road or runs cross-country between main roads
- the place of intersection of two or more roads
- a small community located at such a crossroads
- a central meeting place
- a crucial point esp. where a decision must be made
cross·ruff ['krȯs-,rəf, -'rəf] -n, vb
- a series of plays in a card game (as bridge) in which partners alternately trump different suits and lead to each other for that purpose
cross section ['krȯs-'sek-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl] -n, vt, adj
- a cutting or piece of something cut off at right angles to an axis
- a representation of such a cutting
- section
- a measure of the probability of an encounter between particles such as will result in a specified effect (as scattering or capture)
- a composite representation typifying the constituents of a thing in their relations
crossstaff [-,staf] -n
- an instrument formerly used at sea for taking the altitude of a celestial body
crossstitch ['krȯ(s)-,stich] -n, vb
- a needlework stitch that forms an X
- work having cross-stitch
cross talk -n
- unwanted signals in a communication channel (as in a telephone, radio, or computer) caused by transference of energy from another circuit (as by leakage or coupling)
- conversation that does not relate to the main topic being discussed
- conversation or repartee engaged in for an audience
crosstol·er·ance ['krȯs-'täl-rən(t)s, -'tä-lə-] -n
- tolerance or resistance to a drug that develops through continued use of another drug with similar pharmacological action
cross·town ['krȯs-'tau̇n] -adj
- situated at opposite points of a town
- extending or running across a town
crosstrade ['krȯs-,trād] -n
- cross
crosstrain [-,trān] -vi, n
- to engage in various sports or exercises esp. for well-rounded health and muscular development
- to train (an employee) to do more than one specific job
crosstrain·er [-,trā-nər] -n
- a sport shoe designed for cross-training
cross·trees [-(,)trēz] -n pl
- two horizontal crosspieces of timber or metal supported by trestletrees at a masthead that spread the upper shrouds in order to support the mast
cross vault -n
- a vault formed by the intersection of two or more simple vaults called also cross vaulting
cross·walk ['krȯs-,wȯk] -n
- a specially paved or marked path for pedestrians crossing a street or road
cross·way [-,wā] -n
- crossroad often used in pl.
cross·ways [-,wāz] -adv
- crosswise, diagonally
cross·wind [-,wind] -n
- a wind blowing in a direction not parallel to a course (as of an airplane)
cross·wise [-,wīz] -adv
- in the form of a cross
- so as to cross something : across
- carrot sticks cut crosswise
crosswise -adj
- transverse, crossing
- involved in conflict or disagreement
- got crosswise with his teacher
cross·word ['krȯs-,wərd] -n
- a puzzle in which words are filled into a pattern of numbered squares in answer to correspondingly numbered clues and in such a way that the words read across and down
cros·ti·ni [krȯ-'stē-nē] -n pl
- small slices of usu. toasted bread topped with a spread or other food
crotch ['kräch] -n, adj
- a pole with a forked end used esp. as a prop
- an angle formed by the parting of two legs, branches, or members
crotch·et ['krä-chət] -n
- a small hook or hooked instrument
- brooch
- a highly individual and usu. eccentric opinion or preference
- a peculiar trick or device
- quarter note
crotch·ety ['krä-chə-tē] -adj, n
- given to crotchets : subject to whims, crankiness, or ill temper
- full of or arising from crotchets
cro·ton ['krō-tᵊn] -n
- : any of a genus ( Croton) of herbs, shrubs, and trees of the spurge family: as
- one ( C. eluteria) of the Bahamas yielding cascarilla bark
- an Asian plant ( C. tiglium) yielding croton oil
- any of a genus ( Codiaeum) of shrubs and trees related to the crotons
Cro·ton bug ['krō-tᵊn-] -n
- german cockroach
croton oil -n
- a viscid acrid fixed oil obtained from seeds of an Asian croton ( Croton tiglium) formerly used as a powerful purgative but now used esp. in pharmacological experiments as an irritant
crouch ['krau̇ch] -vb, n
- to lower the body stance esp. by bending the legs
- a sprinter crouch ed ready to go
- to lie close to the ground with the legs bent
- a pair of cats, crouch ing on the brink of a fight -- Aldous Huxley
- to bend or bow servilely : cringe
- to stand at a low height
- cottages crouch ed along the river
- to bow esp. in humility or fear : bend
croup ['krüp] -n
- the rump of a quadruped
- inflammation, edema, and subsequent obstruction of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi esp. of infants and young children that is typically caused by a virus and is marked by episodes of difficult breathing and hoarse metallic cough
crou·pi·er ['krü-pē-ər, -pē-,ā] -n
- an employee of a gambling casino who collects and pays bets and assists at the gaming tables
crouse ['krüs] -adj
- brisk, lively
crous·tade [krü-'städ] -n
- a crisp shell (as of toast or puff pastry) in which to serve food
crou·ton ['krü-,tän, krü-'] -n
- a small cube of toasted or crisply fried bread
crow ['krō] -n
- any of various large usu. entirely glossy black passerine birds (family Corvidae and esp. genus Corvus)
- a member of an American Indian people of the region between the Platte and Yellowstone rivers
- the language of the Crow people
- corvus
- humble pie
- the braggart was forced to eat crow
- to make the loud shrill sound characteristic of a cock
- to utter a sound expressive of pleasure
- to exult gloatingly esp. over the distress of another
- to brag exultantly or blatantly
- to say with self-satisfaction
- the cry of the cock
- a triumphant cry
crow·bar ['krō-,bär] -n, vt
- an iron or steel bar that is usu. wedge-shaped at the working end for use as a pry or lever
crow·ber·ry ['krō-,ber-ē] -n
- an evergreen subshrub ( Empetrum nigrumof the family Empetraceae) of subtemperate regions with an inedible tasteless black berry
- the fruit of a crowberry
crowd ['krau̇d] -vb
- to press on : hurry
- to press close
- the players crowd ed around the coach
- to collect in numbers
- to fill by pressing or thronging together
- a room crowd ed with children
- to press, force, or thrust into a small space
- push, force often used with off or out
- crowd a person off the sidewalk
- to urge on
- to put on (sail) in excess of the usual for greater speed
- to put pressure on
- throng, jostle
- to press or stand close to
- the batter was crowd ing the plate
- a large number of persons esp. when collected together : throng
- the great body of the people : populace
- most of one's peers
- a large number of things close together
- I saw a crowd...of golden daffodils -- William Wordsworth
- a group of people having something (as a habit, interest, or occupation) in common
- an ancient Celtic stringed instrument that is plucked or bowed called also crwth
- violin
crowd·ed·ness ['krau̇-dəd-nəs] -n
- the quality or state of being crowded
crow·die ['krau̇-dē] -n
- a Scottish cottage cheese that is partially cooked
crowdpleas·er ['krau̇d-,plē-zər] -n, adj
- one (as a performer or product) that is notably or reliably popular or appealing
- a flamboyant crowdpleaser given to mad feats of daring -- Tony Hendra
crow·foot ['krō-,fu̇t] -n
- any of numerous plants having leaves with cleft lobes
- buttercup
- crow's-foot usu. used in pl.
crow·keep·er ['krō-,kē-pər] -n
- a person employed to scare off crows
crown ['krau̇n] -n, adj
- a reward of victory or mark of honor
- the title representing the championship in a sport
- a royal or imperial headdress or cap of sovereignty : diadem
- : the highest part: as
- the topmost part of the skull or head
- the summit of a mountain
- the head of foliage of a tree or shrub
- the part of a hat or other headgear covering the crown of the head
- the part of a tooth external to the gum or an artificial substitute for this
- a wreath, band, or circular ornament for the head
- something resembling a wreath or crown
- the knurled cap on top of a watch stem
- imperial or regal power : sovereignty
- the government under a constitutional monarchy
- monarch
- something that imparts splendor, honor, or finish : culmination
- any of several old gold coins with a crown as part of the device
- an old usu. silver British coin worth five shillings
- koruna
- krona
- krone
- the region of a seed plant at which stem and root merge
- the thick arching end of the shank of an anchor where the arms join it
- to place a crown or wreath on the head of
- to invest with regal dignity and power
- to recognize officially as
- they crown ed her athlete of the year
- to award a championship to
- to bestow something on as a mark of honor or recompense : adorn
- surmount, top
- to top (a checker) with a checker to make a king
- to bring to a successful conclusion : climax
- the role that crown ed her career
- : to provide with something like a crown: as
- to fill so that the surface forms a crown
- to put an artificial crown on (a tooth)
- to hit on the head
- to burn rapidly through the tops of trees
crown colony -n
- a British colony over which the Crown retains some control
crown court -n
- a court in England and Wales that exercises jurisdiction over matters formerly heard by the quarter sessions and criminal matters formerly heard by the courts of assize
crow·ner ['krü-nər, 'krau̇-] -n
- coroner
crown·et ['krau̇-nət] -n
- coronet
crown gall -n
- a disease that affects many species of plants and is caused by a bacterium ( Agrobacterium tumefaciens) which forms tumorous enlargements usu. just below the ground on the stem
crown glass -n
- a glass blown and whirled into the form of a disk with a center lump left by the worker's rod
- alkali-lime silicate optical glass having relatively low refractive index and low dispersion value
crown jewel -n
- the jewels (as crown and scepter) belonging to a sovereign's regalia
- the most attractive or valuable one of a collection or group
crown land -n
- land belonging to the crown and yielding revenues that the reigning sovereign is entitled to
- public land in some British dominions or colonies
crown molding -n
- molding that crowns a surface or structure
- molding that runs between the top of an internal wall and a ceiling
crown of thorns
- a starfish ( Acanthaster planci) of the Pacific region that is covered with long spines and feeds on coral polyps sometimes causing destruction of coral reefs called also crown-of-thorns starfish
crown prince -n
- a male heir apparent to a crown or throne
- one prepared or favored to fill a prospective position
crown princess -n
- the wife of a crown prince
- a female heir apparent or heir presumptive to a crown or throne
crown roast -n
- a fancy roast of lamb, veal, or pork made from the rib portions of two loins skewered together at the ends to form a circle
crown rust -n
- a leaf rust of oats and other grasses that is caused by a fungus ( Puccinia coronata) and is characterized by rounded light-orange uredinia and buried telia
crown vetch -n
- a Eurasian herb ( Coronilla varia) of the legume family that is naturalized in the eastern U.S. and has umbels of pink-and-white flowers and sharp-angled pods
crow'sfoot ['krōz-,fu̇t] -n
- a wrinkle extending from the outer corner of the eye usu. used in pl.
- crowfoot
crow's nest -n
- a partly enclosed platform high on a ship's mast for use as a lookout
- a similar lookout (as for traffic control)
crow·step ['krō-,step] -n, adj
- any of a series of steps at the top of a gable wall
crozier ['krō-zhər] -n
(variant of crosier)
- a staff resembling a shepherd's crook carried by bishops and abbots as a symbol of office
- a plant structure with a coiled end
CRT [,sē-(,)är-'tē] -n
- cathode-ray tube
- a display device incorporating a cathode-ray tube
- carrier route
cruces ['krəks, 'kru̇ks] -n
(variant of crux)
- a puzzling or difficult problem : an unsolved question
- an essential point requiring resolution or resolving an outcome
- a main or central feature (as of an argument)
cru·cial ['krü-shəl] -adj
- cruciform
- important or essential as resolving a crisis : decisive
- marked by final determination of a doubtful issue
- the crucial game of a series
- important, significant
- what use we make of them will be the crucial question -- Stanley Kubrick
cru·cial·ly ['krü-sh(ə-)lē] -adv
- in a crucial manner
- very importantly
cru·cian carp ['krü-shən-] -n
- a European cyprinid fish ( Carassius carassius) called also crucian
cru·ci·ate ['krü-shē-,āt] -adj
- cross-shaped : cruciform
cruciate ligament -n
- either of two ligaments in the knee joint which cross each other from femur to tibia
- anterior cruciate ligament
cru·ci·ble ['krü-sə-bəl] -n
- a vessel of a very refractory material (as porcelain) used for melting and calcining a substance that requires a high degree of heat
- a severe test
- a place or situation in which concentrated forces interact to cause or influence change or development
- conditioned by having grown up within the crucible of Chinatown -- Tom Wolfe
crucible steel -n
- hard cast steel made in pots that are lifted from the furnace before the metal is poured into molds
cru·ci·fer ['krü-sə-fər] -n, adj
- one who carries a cross esp. at the head of an ecclesiastical procession
- any of a family (Cruciferae syn. Brassicaceae) of plants including the cabbage, turnip, and mustard
cru·ci·fix ['krü-sə-,fiks] -n
- a representation of Christ on the cross
cru·ci·fix·ion [,krü-sə-'fik-shən] -n
- the crucifying of Christ
- the act of crucifying
- extreme and painful punishment, affliction, or suffering
cru·ci·form ['krü-sə-,fȯrm] -adj, n
- forming or arranged in a cross
cru·ci·fy ['krü-sə-,fī] -vt, n
- to put to death by nailing or binding the wrists or hands and feet to a cross
- to destroy the power of : mortify
- to treat cruelly : torment
- pillory
cruck ['krək] -n
- one of a pair of curved timbers forming a principal support of a roof in primitive English house construction
crud ['krəd] -n, adj
- curd
- a deposit or incrustation of filth, grease, or refuse
- something disagreeable or disgusting : rubbish
- a despicable or contemptible person
- a usu. ill-defined or imperfectly identified bodily disorder
- curd
crude ['krüd] -adj, adv, n
- existing in a natural state and unaltered by cooking or processing
- unripe, immature
- marked by the primitive, gross, or elemental or by uncultivated simplicity or vulgarity
- rough or inexpert in plan or execution
- lacking a covering, glossing, or concealing element : obvious
- tabulated without being broken down into classes
- a substance in its natural unprocessed state
- unrefined petroleum
cru·di·tes [krᵫ-dē-tā, ,krü-di-'tā] -n pl
- pieces of raw vegetables (as celery or carrot sticks) served as an hors d'oeuvre often with a dip
cru·di·ty ['krü-də-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being crude
- something that is crude
cru·el ['krü(-ə)l] -adj, adv, n
- disposed to inflict pain or suffering : devoid of humane feelings
- causing or conducive to injury, grief, or pain
- unrelieved by leniency
cru·el·ty ['krü(-ə)l-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being cruel
- a cruel action
- inhuman treatment
- marital conduct held (as in a divorce action) to endanger life or health or to cause mental suffering or fear
cru·el·tyfree [-'frē] -adj
- developed or produced without inhumane testing on animals
cru·et ['krü-ət] -n
- a vessel to hold wine or water for the Eucharist
- a usu. glass bottle used to hold a condiment (as oil or vinegar) for use at the table
cruise ['krüz] -vb
- to sail about touching at a series of ports
- to move or proceed speedily, smoothly, or effortlessly
- I'll cruise over to her house to see if she's home
- to travel without destination or purpose
- to go about the streets at random but on the lookout for possible developments
- the cabdriver cruised for an hour before being hailed
- to search (as in public places) for a sexual partner
- to fly at the most efficient operating speed
- to travel at a speed suitable for being maintained for a long distance
- to cruise over or about
- to inspect (as land) with reference to possible lumber yield
- to search in (a public place) for a sexual partner
- to approach and suggest sexual relations to
- to explore or search the offerings of
- surf
- an act or an instance of cruising
- a tour by ship
cruise control -n
- an electronic device in a vehicle that controls the throttle so as to maintain a constant speed
- a relaxed and seemingly automatic pace that is easily maintained
cruise missile -n
- a guided missile that has a terrain-following radar system and that flies at moderate speed and low altitude
cruis·er ['krü-zər] -n
- : a vehicle that cruises: as
- squad car
- a powerboat with facilities (as a cabin and plumbing) necessary for living aboard called also cabin cruiser
- a large fast moderately armored and gunned warship
- a person who cruises
cruis·er·weight [-,wāt] -n
- a boxer in a weight division having a maximum limit of 190 pounds
crul·ler ['krə-lər] -n
- a small sweet cake in the form of a twisted strip fried in deep fat
- an unraised doughnut
crumb ['krəm] -n
- a small fragment esp. of something baked (as bread)
- a porous aggregate of soil particles
- bit
- the soft part of bread
- a worthless person
- to break into crumbs
- to cover or thicken with crumbs
- to remove crumbs from
crum·ble ['krəm-bəl] -vb
- to break into small pieces
- to fall into small pieces : disintegrate
- to break down completely : collapse
crumble -n
- something crumbled : fine debris
- crisp
crum·blings ['krəm-b(ə-)liŋz] -n pl
- crumbled particles
crum·bly [-b(ə-)lē] -adj, n
- easily crumbled : friable
crumb structure -n
- a soil condition suitable for farming in which the soil particles are aggregated into crumbs
crumhorn ['krəm-,hȯrn] -n
(variant of krummhorn)
- a Renaissance double-reed woodwind instrument consisting of a curved boxwood tube and having a pierced cap covering the reed
crum·mie ['krə-mē] -n
- cow
- one with crooked horns
crum·my ['krə-mē] -adj, n
- crumbly
- very poor or inferior : lousy
crump ['krəmp] -vi
- crunch
- to explode heavily
- a crunching sound
- shell, bomb
- brittle
crum·pet ['krəm-pət] -n
- a small round unsweetened bread cooked on a griddle and usu. split and toasted before serving
crum·ple ['krəm-pəl] -vb
- to press, bend, or crush out of shape : rumple
- to cause to collapse
- to become crumpled
- collapse
crumple ['krəm-p(ə-)lē] -n, adj
- a wrinkle or crease made by crumpling
crumple zone -n
- a section of an automobile body designed to absorb the force of an impact in order to protect the passengers
crunch ['krənch] -vb, adj
- to chew or press with a crushing noise
- to make one's way with a crushing noise
- to chew, press, or grind with a crunching sound
- process
- to perform mathematical computations on
- an act of crunching
- a sound made by crunching
- : a tight or critical situation: as
- a critical point in the buildup of pressure between opposing elements : showdown
- a severe economic squeeze (as on credit)
- shortage
- a conditioning exercise performed from a supine position by raising and lowering the upper torso without reaching a sitting position
crunch·er ['krən-chər] -n
- one that crunches
- a finishing blow
crunch time -n
- a critical moment or period (as near the end of a game) when decisive action is needed
crunchy ['krən-chē] -adj, adv, n
- making a crunching sound when chewed or pressed
crunk ['krəŋk] -n
- a style of Southern rap music featuring repetitive chants and rapid dance rhythms
crup·per ['krə-pər, 'kru̇-] -n
- a leather loop passing under a horse's tail and buckled to the saddle
- croup
- buttocks
cru·ral ['kru̇r-əl] -adj
- of or relating to the thigh or leg
- femoral
crus ['krüs, 'krəs] -n
- any of various anatomical parts that resemble a leg or a pair of legs
cru·sade [krü-'sād] -n
- any of the military expeditions undertaken by Christian powers in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries to win the Holy Land from the Muslims
- a remedial enterprise undertaken with zeal and enthusiasm
crusade -vi, n
- to engage in a crusade
cru·sa·do [krü-'sā-(,)dō] -n
- an old gold or silver coin of Portugal having a cross on the reverse
cruse ['krüz, 'krüs] -n
- a small vessel (as a jar or pot) for holding a liquid (as water or oil)
crush ['krəsh] -vb, adj, n, adv
- to squeeze or force by pressure so as to alter or destroy structure
- to squeeze together into a mass
- hug, embrace
- to reduce to particles by pounding or grinding
- to suppress or overwhelm as if by pressure or weight
- to oppress or burden grievously
- to subdue completely
- crowd, push
- were crush ed into the elevator
- drink
- crash
- to become crushed
- to advance with or as if with crushing
- an act of crushing
- the quantity of material crushed
- a crowding together (as of people)
- crowd, mob
- a crowd of people pressing against one another
- an intense and usu. passing infatuation
- the object of infatuation
crust ['krəst] -n, vb, adj
- the hardened exterior or surface part of bread
- a piece of this or of bread grown dry or hard
- the pastry cover of a pie
- : a hard or brittle external coat or covering: as
- a hard surface layer (as of soil or snow)
- the outer part of a planet, moon, or asteroid composed essentially of crystalline rocks
- a deposit built up on the interior surface of a wine bottle during long aging
- an encrusting deposit of dried secretions or exudate
- scab
- gall, nerve
crus·ta·cea [,krəs-'tā-sh(ē-)ə] -n pl
- arthropods that are crustaceans
crus·ta·cean [,krəs-'tā-shən] -n, adj
- any of a large class (Crustacea) of mostly aquatic mandibulate arthropods that have a chitinous or calcareous and chitinous exoskeleton, a pair of often much modified appendages on each segment, and two pairs of antennae and that include the lobsters, shrimps, crabs, wood lice, water fleas, and barnacles
crus·ta·ceous [-shəs] -adj
- of, relating to, having, or forming a crust or shell
crus·tose ['krəs-,tōs] -adj
- having a thin thallus adhering closely to a substrate (as of rock, bark, or soil)
crusty ['krəs-tē] -adj, adv, n
- having or being a crust
- giving an effect of surly incivility in address or disposition
crutch ['krəch] -n
- a support typically fitting under the armpit for use by the disabled in walking
- prop, stay
- a forked leg rest constituting the pommel of a sidesaddle
- the crotch of a human being or an animal
- a forked support
- to support on crutches : prop up
crux ['krəks, 'kru̇ks] -n
- a puzzling or difficult problem : an unsolved question
- an essential point requiring resolution or resolving an outcome
- a main or central feature (as of an argument)
cru·za·do [krü-'zä-(,)dō, -(,)dü] -n
- the basic monetary unit of Brazil from 1986 to 1990
Cru·zan [krü-'zan] -n, adj
- a native or inhabitant of St. Croix
cru·zei·ro [krü-'zer-(,)ō, -(,)ü] -n
- the basic monetary unit of Brazil from 1942 to 1985 and from 1991 to 1993
crwth ['krüth] -n
- crowd
cry ['krī] -vb
- to utter loudly : shout
- beg, beseech
- to proclaim publicly : advertise
- to call loudly : shout
- to shed tears often noisily : weep, sob
- to utter a characteristic sound or call
- to require or suggest strongly a remedy or disposition
- a hundred things which cry out for planning -- Roger Burlingame
- : an instance of crying: as
- an inarticulate utterance of distress, rage, or pain
- outcry, clamor
- proclamation
- banns
- entreaty, appeal
- a loud shout
- watchword, slogan
- common report
- a general opinion
- the public voice raised in protest or approval
- a fit of weeping
- the characteristic sound or call of an animal
- a pack of hounds
- pursuit used in the phrase in full cry
- a peak of activity or excitement used in the phrase in full cry
cry- -comb form
- cold : freezing
cry·ba·by ['krī-,bā-bē] -n
- one who cries or complains easily or often
cry down -vt
- disparage, depreciate
cry·ing ['krī-iŋ] -adj
- calling for notice
- notorious, heinous
cryo·bi·ol·o·gy [,krī-ō-bī-'ä-lə-jē] -n, adj
- the study of the effects of extremely low temperature on living organisms and cells
cry off -vi
- to beg off
- to call off (as a bargain)
cryo·gen ['krī-ə-jən] -n
- a substance for obtaining low temperatures : refrigerant called also cryogenic
cryo·gen·ic [,krī-ə-'je-nik] -adj, adv
- of or relating to the production of very low temperatures
- being or relating to very low temperatures
- requiring or involving the use of a cryogenic temperature
- requiring cryogenic storage
- suitable for storage of a cryogenic substance
cryo·gen·ics [-niks] -n pl but sing in constr
- a branch of physics that deals with the production and effects of very low temperatures
cryo·lite ['krī-ə-,līt] -n
- a mineral consisting of a fluoride of sodium and aluminum found esp. in Greenland usu. in white cleavable masses and formerly used as a source of aluminum
cry·on·ics [krī-'ä-niks] -n pl but usu sing in constr, adj
- the practice of freezing a person who has died of a disease in hopes of restoring life at some future time when a cure for the disease has been developed
cryo·phil·ic [,krī-ə-'fi-lik] -adj
- thriving at low temperatures
cryo·pres·er·va·tion [,krī-ō-,pre-zər-'vā-shən] -n, vt
- preservation (as of cells) by subjection to extremely low temperatures
cryo·probe ['krī-ə-,prōb] -n
- a blunt chilled instrument used to freeze tissues in cryosurgery
cryo·pro·tec·tive [,krī-ō-prə-'tek-tiv] -adj, n or adj
- serving to protect against the deleterious effects of freezing
- an intracellular cryoprotective agent
cryo·scope ['krī-ə-,skōp] -n
- an instrument for determining freezing points
cry·os·co·py [krī-'äs-kə-pē] -n, adj
- the determination of the lowered freezing points produced in liquid by dissolved substances in order to determine molecular weights of solutes and various properties of solutions
cryo·stat ['krī-ə-,stat] -n, adj
- an apparatus for maintaining a constant low temperature esp. below 0C
cryo·sur·gery [,krī-ō-'sərj-rē, -'sər-jə-] -n, adj
- surgery in which usu. diseased or abnormal tissue (as of a tumor or wart) is destroyed or removed by freezing (as by liquid nitrogen)
cryo·ther·a·py [-'ther-ə-pē] -n
- the therapeutic use of cold
- cryosurgery
crypt ['kript] -n
- a chamber (as a vault) wholly or partly underground
- a vault under the main floor of a church
- a chamber in a mausoleum
- an anatomical pit or depression
- a simple tubular gland
crypt- -comb form
- hidden : covered
- cryptographic
crypt·anal·y·sis [,krip-tə-'na-lə-səs] -n, adj
- the solving of cryptograms or cryptographic systems
- the theory of solving cryptograms or cryptographic systems : the art of devising methods for cryptanalysis
crypt·an·a·lyst [krip-'ta-nə-list] -n
- a specialist in cryptanalysis
cryp·ta·rithm ['krip-tə-,ri-thəm] -n
- an arithmetic problem in which letters have been substituted for numbers and which is solved by finding all possible pairings of digits with letters that produce a numerically correct answer
cryp·tic ['krip-tik] -adj, adv
- secret, occult
- having or seeming to have a hidden or ambiguous meaning : mysterious
- marked by an often perplexing brevity
- serving to conceal
- cryptic coloration in animals
- exhibiting cryptic coloration
- not recognized
- employing cipher or code
cryp·to ['krip-(,)tō] -n
- a person who adheres or belongs secretly to a party, sect, or other group
- cryptography
crypto -adj
- not openly avowed or declared often used in combination
- cryptographic
cryp·to·coc·co·sis [,krip-tə-(,)kä-'kō-səs] -n
- an infectious disease that is caused by a fungus ( Cryptococcus neoformans) and is characterized by the production of lesions in subcutaneous tissues, joints, and esp. the lungs, brain, and meninges and often by pneumonia or meningitis
cryp·to·coc·cus [-'kä-kəs] -n, adj
- any of a genus ( Cryptococcus) of budding imperfect fungi that resemble yeasts and include a number of saprophytes and a few serious pathogens
cryp·to·crys·tal·line [,krip-tō-'kris-tə-lən] -adj
- having a crystalline structure so fine that no distinct particles are recognizable under a microscope
cryp·to·gam ['krip-tə-,gam] -n, adj
- a plant or plantlike organism (as a fern, moss, alga, or fungus) reproducing by spores and not producing flowers or seed
cryp·to·gen·ic [,krip-tə-'je-nik] -adj
- of obscure or unknown origin
cryp·to·gram ['krip-tə-,gram] -n
- a communication in cipher or code
- a figure or representation having a hidden significance
cryp·to·graph ['krip-tə-,graf] -n
- cryptogram
cryp·tog·ra·pher [krip-'tä-grə-fər] -n
- : a specialist in cryptography: as
- a clerk who enciphers and deciphers messages
- one who devises cryptographic methods or systems
- cryptanalyst
cryp·to·graph·ic [,krip-tə-'gra-fik] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or using cryptography
cryp·tog·ra·phy [krip-'tä-grə-fē] -n
- secret writing
- the enciphering and deciphering of messages in secret code or cipher
- the computerized encoding and decoding of information
- cryptanalysis
cryp·tol·o·gy [krip-'tä-lə-jē] -n, adj
- the scientific study of cryptography and cryptanalysis
cryp·to·me·ria [,krip-tə-'mir-ē-ə] -n
- an evergreen tree ( Cryptomeria japonica) of the bald cypress family that is a valuable timber tree of Japan
cryp·to·nym ['krip-tə-,nim] -n
- a secret name
crypt·or·chid [krip-'tȯr-kəd] -n, adj
- one affected with cryptorchidism
crypt·or·chi·dism [-kə-,di-zəm] -n
- a condition in which one or both testes fail to descend normally
cryp·to·spo·rid·i·o·sis [,krip-tō-spȯr-,i-dē-'ō-səs] -n
- infection with or disease caused by cryptosporidia
cryp·to·spo·rid·i·um [,krip-tō-spȯr-'i-dē-əm] -n
- any of a genus ( Cryptosporidiumof the order Coccidia) of protozoans parasitic in the gut of vertebrates including humans and sometimes causing diarrhea
cryp·to·sys·tem [-'sis-təm] -n
- a method for encoding and decoding messages
cryp·to·zo·ol·o·gy [,krip-tə-zō-'ä-lə-jē, -zə-'wä-] -n, adj
- the study of and search for animals and esp. legendary animals (as Sasquatch) usu. in order to evaluate the possibility of their existence
cryst -abbr
- crystalline; crystallized
crys·tal ['kris-tᵊl] -n
- quartz that is transparent or nearly so and that is either colorless or only slightly tinged
- something resembling crystal in transparency and colorlessness
- a body that is formed by the solidification of a chemical element, a compound, or a mixture and has a regularly repeating internal arrangement of its atoms and often external plane faces
- a clear colorless glass of superior quality
- objects or ware of such glass
- the glass or transparent plastic cover over a watch or clock dial
- a crystalline material used in electronics as a frequency-determining element or for rectification
- ice
- methamphetamine in any form when used illicitly
crystal -adj
- consisting of or resembling crystal : clear, lucid
- relating to or using a crystal
crystal ball -n
- a sphere esp. of quartz crystal traditionally used by fortune-tellers
- a means or method of predicting future events
crystal clear -adj
- perfectly or transparently clear
- her directions were crystal clear
crystal gazing -n
- the art or practice of concentrating on a glass or crystal globe with the aim of inducing a psychic state in which divination can be performed
- the attempt to predict future events or make difficult judgments esp. without adequate data
crystall- -comb form
- crystal
crys·tal·line ['kris-tə-lən also -,līn, -,lēn] -adj, n
- : resembling crystal: as
- strikingly clear or sparkling
- clear-cut
- made of crystal : composed of crystals
- constituting or relating to a crystal
crystalline lens -n
- the lens of the eye in vertebrates
crys·tal·lise ['kris-tə-,līz] -vb, adj, n
(variant of crystallize)
- to cause to form crystals or assume crystalline form
- to cause to take a definite form
- tried to crystallize his thoughts
- to coat with crystals esp. of sugar
- to become crystallized
crys·tal·lite ['kris-tə-,līt] -n
- a minute mineral form (as in glassy volcanic rocks) that marks the beginning of crystallization
- a single grain in a polycrystalline substance
- micelle
crys·tal·lize ['kris-tə-,līz] -vb, adj, n
- to cause to form crystals or assume crystalline form
- to cause to take a definite form
- tried to crystallize his thoughts
- to coat with crystals esp. of sugar
- to become crystallized
crys·tal·lo·graph·ic [,kris-tə-lə-'gra-fik] -adj, adv
- of or relating to crystals or crystallography
crys·tal·log·ra·phy [,kris-tə-'lä-grə-fē] -n
- a science that deals with the forms and structures of crystals
crys·tal·loid ['kris-tə-,lȯid] -n, adj
- a substance that forms a true solution and is capable of being crystallized
crystal meth -n
- crystal
crystal pleat -n, adj
- any of a series of narrow sharply pressed pleats all turned in one direction
crystal violet -n
- a triphenylmethane dye found in gentian violet
cry up -vt
- to praise publicly in order to enhance in value or repute
- cried up his skills as a writer