cr -abbr

  1. center
  2. circular
  3. commander
  4. cream
  5. creased
  6. credit; creditor
  7. creek
  8. crescendo

Cr -symbol

  1. chromium

CR -abbr

  1. carrier's risk
  2. cathode ray
  3. conditioned reflex; conditioned response
  4. consciousness-raising
  5. current rate

crab ['krab] -n

  1. : any of numerous chiefly marine broadly built decapod crustaceans:
  2. 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
  3. any of various crustaceans of an infraorder (Anomura) resembling true crabs in the more or less reduced condition of the abdomen
  4. cancer
  5. infestation with crab lice
  6. the angular difference between an aircraft's course and the heading necessary to make that course in the presence of a crosswind
  7. to fish for crabs
  8. to move sideways indirectly or diagonally
  9. to crab an airplane
  10. to scuttle or scurry sideways
  11. to cause to move sideways or in an indirect or diagonal manner
  12. to head (an airplane) into a crosswind to counteract drift
  13. to subject to crabbing
  14. crab apple
  15. an ill-tempered person : grouch
  16. to make sullen : sour
    • old age has crabbed his nature
  17. to complain about peevishly
  18. spoil, ruin
  19. carp, grouse
    • always crab s about the weather

crab apple -n

  1. any of various wild or cultivated trees (genus Malus) that are cultivars or relatives of the cultivated apple and that produce small sour fruit
  2. the fruit

crab·bed ['kra-bəd] -adj, n

  1. marked by a forbidding moroseness
    • a crabbed view of human nature
  2. difficult to read or understand
    • crabbed handwriting

crab·by ['kra-bē] -adj

  1. cross, ill-natured
    • a crabby recluse

crab·eat·er seal ['krab-,ē-tər-] -n

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. a sucking louse ( Phthirus pubis) infesting the pubic region of the human body

crab·meat ['krab-,mēt] -n

  1. the edible part of a crab

crab spider -n

  1. 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

  1. a stick, cane, or cudgel of crab apple tree wood
  2. a crabbed ill-natured person

crab·wise [-,wīz] -adv

  1. sideways
  2. in a sidling or cautiously indirect manner

crack ['krak] -vb

  1. to make a very sharp explosive sound
    • the whip crack s through the air
  2. to break, split, or snap apart
  3. : fail: as
  4. to lose control or effectiveness under pressure often used with up
  5. to fail in tone
    • his voice crack ed
  6. to go or travel at good speed usu. used with on
    • the steamboat crack ed on
  7. to break so that fissures appear on the surface
    • crack a mirror
  8. to break with a sudden sharp sound
    • crack nuts
  9. to tell esp. suddenly or strikingly
    • crack a joke
  10. 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
  11. to open (as a bottle) for drinking
  12. to open (a book) for studying
  13. to puzzle out and expose, solve, or reveal the mystery of
    • crack a code
  14. to break into
    • crack a safe
  15. to open slightly
    • crack the throttle
  16. to break through (as a barrier) so as to gain acceptance or recognition
  17. to show or begin showing (a smile) esp. reluctantly or uncharacteristically
  18. to impair seriously or irreparably : wreck
    • crack an opponent's courage
  19. to destroy the tone of (a voice)
  20. disorder, craze
  21. to interrupt sharply or abruptly
    • the criticism crack ed our complacency
  22. to cause to make a sharp noise
    • crack s his knuckles
  23. to subject (hydrocarbons) to cracking
  24. to produce by cracking
    • crack ed gasoline
  25. to break up (chemical compounds) into simpler compounds by means of heat
  26. a loud roll or peal
    • a crack of thunder
  27. a sudden sharp noise
    • the crack of rifle fire
  28. a sharp witty remark : quip
  29. a narrow break : fissure
    • a crack in the ice
  30. 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
  31. a weakness or flaw caused by decay, age, or deficiency : unsoundness
  32. a broken tone of the voice
  33. crackpot
  34. moment, instant
    • the crack of dawn
  35. housebreaking, burglary
  36. a sharp resounding blow
    • gave him a crack on the head
  37. an attempt or opportunity to do something
    • her first crack at writing a novel
    • got first crack at the job opening
  38. 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
  39. of superior excellence or ability
    • a crack marksman

crack baby -n

  1. an infant subjected to prolonged exposure to crack cocaine in the mother's womb

crack·back ['krak-,bak] -n

  1. 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

  1. an erratic person : crackpot

crack·down [-,dau̇n] -n

  1. an act or instance of cracking down

crack down -vi

  1. to take positive regulatory or disciplinary action

cracked ['krakt] -adj

  1. broken (as by a sharp blow) so that the surface is fissured
    • cracked china
  2. broken into coarse particles
    • cracked wheat
  3. marked by harshness, dissonance, or failure to sustain a tone
    • a cracked voice
  4. mentally disturbed : crazy

crack·er ['kra-kər] -n

  1. a bragging liar : boaster
  2. : something that makes a cracking or snapping noise: as
  3. firecracker
  4. the snapping end of a whiplash : snapper
  5. a paper holder for a party favor that pops when the ends are pulled sharply
  6. nutcracker
  7. a dry thin crispy baked bread product that may be leavened or unleavened
  8. a poor usu. Southern white
  9. a native or resident of Florida or Georgia used as a nickname
  10. the equipment in which cracking (as of petroleum) is carried out
  11. hacker

crack·erbar·rel [-,ba-rəl] -adj

  1. suggestive of the friendly homespun character of a country store
    • a crackerbarrel philosopher

crack·er·jack ['kra-kər-,jak] -n, adj

  1. a person or thing of marked excellence

Cracker Jack -trademark

  1. used for a candied popcorn confection

crack·ers ['kra-kərz] -adj

  1. crazy

crack·head ['krak-,hed] -n

  1. one who smokes crack

crack house -n

  1. a house or apartment where crack is made, sold, or used

crack·ing ['kra-kiŋ] -adj

  1. very impressive or effective : great

cracking -adv

  1. very, extremely
    • a cracking good book
  2. a process in which relatively heavy hydrocarbons are broken up by heat into lighter products (as gasoline)

crack·le ['kra-kəl] -vb, adv

  1. to make small sharp sudden repeated noises
    • the fire crackle s on the hearth
  2. to show animation : sparkle
    • the essays crackle with wit
  3. craze
  4. to crush or crack with snapping noises

crackle -n

  1. the noise of repeated small cracks or reports
  2. sparkle, effervescence
  3. a network of fine cracks on an otherwise smooth surface

crack·le·ware ['kra-kəl-,wer] -n

  1. ceramic ware with a decorative crazed glaze

crack·ling -n

  1. a series of small sharp cracks or reports
    • the crackling of frozen snow as we walk
  2. 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

  1. inclined to crackle : crisp

crack·nel ['krak-nᵊl] -n

  1. a hard brittle biscuit
  2. crackling usu. used in pl.

crack·pot ['krak-,pät] -n, adj

  1. one given to eccentric or lunatic notions

cracks·man ['kraks-mən] -n

  1. burglar
  2. safecracker

crackup ['krak-,əp] -n

  1. crash, wreck
    • an automobile crackup
  2. a mental collapse : nervous breakdown
    • his wife's death brought on his crackup
  3. collapse, breakdown

crack up -vt

  1. praise, tout
    • wasn't all that it was cracked up to be
  2. to damage or destroy (a vehicle) by crashing
    • crack up a car
  3. to cause to laugh out loud
    • that joke really cracks him up
  4. to damage or destroy a vehicle (as by losing control)
    • cracked up on a curve
  5. to laugh out loud

cra·dle ['krā-dᵊl] -n

  1. a bed or cot for a baby usu. on rockers or pivots
  2. : a framework or support suggestive of a baby's cradle: as
  3. a framework of bars and rods
  4. the support for a telephone receiver or handset
  5. an implement with rods like fingers attached to a scythe and used formerly for harvesting grain
  6. a frame to keep the bedclothes from contact with an injured part of the body
  7. the earliest period of life : infancy
    • from the cradle to the grave
  8. a place of origin
    • the cradle of civilization
  9. a rocking device used in panning for gold

cradle ['krād-liŋ, 'krā-dᵊl-iŋ] -vb

  1. to place or keep in or as if in a cradle
  2. shelter, rear
  3. to support protectively or intimately
    • cradling the injured man's head in her arms
  4. to cut (grain) with a cradle scythe
  5. to place, raise, support, or transport on a cradle
  6. to rest in or as if in a cradle

cradle cap -n

  1. 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

  1. lullaby

craft ['kraft] -n

  1. skill in planning, making, or executing : dexterity
  2. an occupation or trade requiring manual dexterity or artistic skill
    • the carpenter's craft
    • the craft of writing plays
    • craft s such as pottery, carpentry, and sewing
  3. articles made by craftspeople
    • a store selling craft s
    • a craft s fair
  4. skill in deceiving to gain an end
    • used craft and guile to close the deal
  5. the members of a trade or trade association
  6. a boat esp. of small size
  7. aircraft
  8. spacecraft
  9. 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

  1. a worker who practices a trade or handicraft
  2. 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

  1. workers who practice a trade or craft

crafts·per·son [-,pər-sᵊn] -n

  1. a craftsman or craftswoman

crafts·wom·an ['kraf(t)s-,wu̇-mən] -n

  1. a woman who is an artisan
  2. a woman who is skilled in a craft

craft union -n

  1. a labor union with membership limited to workers of the same craft

crafty ['kraf-tē] -adj, adv, n

  1. skillful, clever
  2. adept in the use of subtlety and cunning
  3. marked by subtlety and guile
    • a crafty scheme

crag ['krag] -n, adj

  1. a steep rugged rock or cliff
  2. a sharp detached fragment of rock
  3. neck, throat

crag·gy ['kra-gē] -adj, adv, n

  1. full of crags
    • craggy slopes
  2. rough, rugged
    • a craggy face
    • a craggy voice

crags·man ['kragz-mən] -n

  1. one who is expert in climbing crags or cliffs

crake ['krāk] -n

  1. any of various rails
  2. a short-billed rail (as the corncrake)
  3. the corncrake's cry

cram ['kram] -vb, n

  1. to pack tight : jam
    • cram a suitcase with clothes
    • a novel crammed with surprises
  2. to fill with food to satiety : stuff
  3. to eat voraciously : bolt
    • the child cram s her food
  4. to thrust in or as if in a rough or forceful manner
    • crammed the letters into his pocket
  5. to prepare hastily for an examination
    • cram the students for the test
  6. to eat greedily or to satiety : stuff
  7. to study a subject intensively esp. for an imminent examination
  8. a compressed multitude or crowd : crush
  9. last-minute study esp. for an examination

cram·bo ['kram-(,)bō] -n

  1. 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

  1. a painful involuntary spasmodic contraction of a muscle
  2. a temporary paralysis of muscles from overuse
  3. sharp abdominal pain usu. used in pl.
  4. persistent and often intense though dull lower abdominal pain associated with dysmenorrhea usu. used in pl.
  5. a usu. iron device bent at the ends and used to hold timbers or blocks of stone together
  6. clamp
  7. something that confines : shackle
  8. the state of being confined
  9. to affect with or as if with a cramp or cramps
  10. confine, restrain
    • was cramp ed in the tiny apartment
  11. to restrain from free expression used esp. in the phrase cramp one's style
  12. to fasten or hold with a cramp
  13. to be affected with cramps
  14. hard to understand or figure out
    • cramp law terms
    • cramp handwriting
  15. being cramped
    • a cramp corner

cram·pon ['kram-,pän] -n

  1. a hooked clutch or dog for raising heavy objects usu. used in pl.
  2. 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

  1. the red acid berry produced by some plants (as Vaccinium oxycoccosand V. macrocarpon) of the heath family
  2. a plant producing these
  3. any of various plants with a fruit that resembles a cranberry
  4. a dark red

cranberry bush -n

  1. highbush cranberry

crane ['krān] -n

  1. 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
  2. any of several herons
  3. : an often horizontal projection swinging about a vertical axis: as
  4. 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
  5. an iron arm in a fireplace for supporting kettles
  6. a boom for holding a motion-picture or television camera
  7. to raise or lift by or as if by a crane
  8. to stretch (as the neck) toward an object of attention
    • craning her neck to get a better view
  9. to stretch one's neck toward an object of attention
    • I craned out of the window of my compartment -- Webb Waldron
  10. hesitate

crane fly -n

  1. any of a family (Tipulidae) of long-legged slender dipteran flies that resemble large mosquitoes but do not bite

cranes·bill ['krānz-,bil] -n

  1. geranium

crani- -comb form

  1. cranium
    • crani ate
    : cranial and
    • cranio sacral

cra·ni·al ['krā-nē-əl] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to the skull or cranium
  2. cephalic

cranial index -n

  1. the ratio multiplied by 100 of the maximum breadth of the bare skull to its maximum length from front to back

cranial nerve -n

  1. 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

  1. having a cranium

cra·nio·ce·re·bral [,krā-nē-ō-sə-'rē-brəl, -'ser-ə-] -adj

  1. involving both cranium and brain
    • craniocerebral injury

cra·nio·fa·cial [-'fā-shəl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or involving both the cranium and the face
    • a craniofacial deformity

cra·ni·ol·o·gy [,krā-nē-'ä-lə-jē] -n

  1. a science dealing with variations in size, shape, and proportions of skulls among human races

cra·ni·om·e·try [-'ä-mə-trē] -n

  1. a science dealing with cranial measurement

cra·nio·sa·cral [,krā-nē-ō-'sa-krəl, -'sā-] -adj

  1. parasympathetic

craniosacral therapy -n

  1. 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

  1. premature fusion of the sutures of the skull

cra·ni·ot·o·my [,krā-nē-'ä-tə-mē] -n

  1. surgical opening of the skull

cra·ni·um ['krā-nē-əm] -n

  1. skull
  2. the part that encloses the brain : braincase

crank ['kraŋk] -n, adj

  1. 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
  2. bend
  3. a twist or turn of speech : conceit used esp. in the phrase quips and cranks
  4. caprice, crotchet
  5. an annoyingly eccentric person
  6. one who is overly enthusiastic about a particular subject or activity
  7. a bad-tempered person : grouch
  8. crystal
  9. to move with a winding course : zigzag
  10. to turn a crank
  11. to get started by or as if by the turning of a crank
  12. to gain speed, momentum, or intensity usu. used with up
    • the campaign is crank ing up
  13. to move or operate by or as if by a crank
    • crank the window down
  14. to cause to start (as an automobile)
  15. to rotate the shaft (as a crankshaft) of esp. with a starter
    • crank over an engine
  16. to use in trying to start an engine
    • crank the starter
  17. to start as if by use of a crank usu. used with up
    • she crank ed up the air conditioner
  18. turn up usu. used with up
    • crank up the volume
    • crank up the stereo
  19. of, relating to, or being a cranky or eccentric person
  20. made or sent by such a person
    • crank calls
    • a crank letter
  21. merry, high-spirited
  22. cocky, confident
  23. easily tipped : tender

crank·case ['kraŋk-,kās] -n

  1. the housing of a crankshaft

crank out -vt

  1. to produce esp. in a mechanical manner
    • crank out a manuscript

crank·pin ['kraŋk-,pin] -n

  1. the cylindrical piece which forms the handle of a crank or to which a connecting rod is attached

crank·shaft ['kraŋk-,shaft] -n

  1. a shaft driven by or driving a crank
  2. 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

  1. given to fretful fussiness : readily angered when opposed : crotchety
    • our long wait...left us a tad cranky -- Connecticut
  2. marked by eccentricity
    • his bizarre and cranky mix of ideas and beliefs -- R. J. Evans
  3. full of twists and turns : tortuous
    • a cranky road
  4. working erratically : unpredictable
    • a cranky old tractor
  5. crazy, imbecile
  6. crank

cran·nog ['kra-nəg] -n

  1. an artificial fortified island constructed in a lake or marsh orig. in prehistoric Ireland and Scotland

cran·ny ['kra-nē] -n, adj

  1. a small break or slit : crevice
  2. an obscure nook or corner

cran·reuch ['kran-,ru̇k̲] -n

  1. hoarfrost, rime

crap ['krap] -vi

  1. defecate
  2. feces
  3. the act of defecating
  4. nonsense, rubbish
  5. stuff
  6. used as an attributive form of craps
    • crap game
    • crap table
  7. 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
  8. to throw a crap
  9. to throw a seven while trying to make a point usu. used with out

crape ['krāp] -n

  1. crepe
  2. a band of crepe worn on a hat or sleeve as a sign of mourning
  3. to cover or shroud with or as if with crape
  4. to make (the hair) curly

crape myrtle -n

  1. an Asian shrub ( Lagerstroemia indica) of the loosestrife family widely grown in warm regions for its flowers

crap·o·la [,krap-'ō-lə] -n

  1. nonsense, rubbish
  2. stuff

crap·per ['kra-pər] -n

  1. toilet

crap·pie ['krä-pē] -n

  1. black crappie
  2. white crappie

crap·py ['kra-pē] -adj

  1. markedly inferior in quality : lousy

craps ['kraps] -n pl but sing or pl in constr

  1. a gambling game played with two dice
  2. crap

crap·shoot ['krap-,shüt] -n

  1. something (as a business venture) that has an unpredictable outcome

crap·shoot·er ['krap-,shü-tər] -n

  1. one who plays craps

crap·u·lous ['kra-pyə-ləs] -adj

  1. marked by intemperance esp. in eating or drinking
  2. sick from excessive indulgence in liquor

crash ['krash] -vb, n

  1. to break violently and noisily : smash
  2. to damage (an airplane) in landing
  3. to cause to make a loud noise
    • crash the cymbals together
  4. to force (as one's way) through with loud crashing noises
  5. to enter or attend without invitation or without paying
    • crash the party
  6. to move toward aggressively (as in fighting for a rebound)
    • basketball players crash ing the boards
  7. to cause (a computer system, component, or program) to crash
  8. to break or go to pieces with or as if with violence and noise
  9. to fall, land, or hit with destructive force
  10. to decline suddenly and steeply
  11. to suffer a sudden major failure usu. with attendant loss of data
  12. to make a smashing noise
    • thunder crash ing overhead
  13. to move or force one's way with or as if with a crash
    • crash es into the room
  14. to experience the aftereffects (as lethargy or depression) of a usu. prolonged episode of drug use (as of amphetamines)
  15. to go to bed or fall asleep
  16. to reside temporarily : stay
    • crash ing with friends for a few days
  17. a loud sound (as of things smashing)
    • a crash of thunder
  18. a breaking to pieces by or as if by collision
  19. an instance of crashing
    • a plane crash
    • a system crash
  20. a sudden decline (as of a population) or failure (as of a business)
    • a stock market crash
  21. the process of crashing after drug intoxication
  22. marked by a concerted effort and effected in the shortest possible time esp. to meet emergency conditions
    • a crash renovation program
  23. a coarse fabric used for draperies, toweling, and clothing and for strengthening joints of cased-in books

crash cart -n

  1. 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

  1. a rapid and intense course of study
  2. 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

  1. a dive made by a submarine in the least possible time

crash helmet -n

  1. 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

  1. utter, absolute
    • a crashing bore
  2. superlative
    • a crashing effect

crashland ['krash-'land] -vt, n

  1. to land (an airplane or spacecraft) under emergency conditions usu. with damage to the craft
  2. to crash-land an airplane or spacecraft

crash pad -n

  1. protective padding (as on the inside of an automobile or a tank)
  2. a place to stay temporarily

crash·wor·thy ['krash-,wər-thē] -adj, n

  1. resistant to the effects of collision
    • crashworthy cars

crass ['kras] -adj, adv, n

  1. gross
  2. having or indicating such grossness of mind as precludes delicacy and discrimination
  3. being beneath one's dignity
    • crass concerns of daily life
  4. used as a pejorative intensifier
    • crass flattery
    • crass propaganda
  5. guided by or indicative of base or materialistic values
    • crass commercialism
    • crass measures of success

cras·si·tude ['kra-sə-,tüd, -,tyüd] -n

  1. the quality or state of being crass : grossness
  2. an instance of grossness

cratch ['krach] -n

  1. manger
  2. a crib or rack esp. for fodder
  3. frame

crate ['krāt] -n

  1. an open box of wooden slats or a usu. wooden protective case or framework for shipping
  2. jalopy
  3. to pack in a crate

cra·ter ['krā-tər] -n, adj

  1. the bowl-shaped depression around the orifice of a volcano
  2. a depression formed by an impact (as of a meteorite)
  3. a hole in the ground made by the explosion of a bomb or shell
  4. an eroded lesion
  5. a dimple in a painted surface

crater -vi

  1. to exhibit or form craters
  2. to fail or fall suddenly and dramatically : collapse, crash
    • the deal crater ed
    • crater ing stock prices
  3. to form craters in

crater ['krā-tər, krä-'ter] -n

(variant of krater)

  1. 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

  1. a small crater

cra·ton ['krā-,tän, 'kra-] -n, adj

  1. 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

  1. crunch

cra·vat [krə-'vat] -n

  1. a band or scarf worn around the neck
  2. necktie

crave ['krāv] -vb, n

  1. to ask for earnestly : beg, demand
    • crave a pardon for neglect
  2. to want greatly : need
    • crave s drugs
  3. to yearn for
    • crave a vanished youth
  4. to have a strong or inward desire
    • crave s after affection

cra·ven ['krā-vən] -adj, n, adv

  1. defeated, vanquished
  2. lacking the least bit of courage : contemptibly fainthearted

crav·ing ['krā-viŋ] -n

  1. an intense, urgent, or abnormal desire or longing

craw ['krȯ] -n

  1. the crop of a bird or insect
  2. the stomach esp. of a lower animal

craw·dad ['krȯ-,dad] -n

  1. crayfish used chiefly west of the Appalachians

craw·fish ['krȯ-,fish] -n

  1. crayfish
  2. spiny lobster

crawfish -vi

  1. to retreat from a position : back out
    • I crawfish ed as fast as I could -- Mark Twain

crawl ['krȯl] -vb

  1. to move slowly in a prone position without or as if without the use of limbs
    • the snake crawl ed into its hole
  2. to move or progress slowly or laboriously
    • traffic crawl s along at 10 miles an hour
  3. to advance by guile or servility
    • crawl ing into favor by toadying to his boss
  4. to spread by extending stems or tendrils
    • a crawl ing vine
  5. to be alive or swarming with or as if with creeping things
    • a kitchen crawl ing with ants
  6. to have the sensation of insects creeping over one
    • the story made her flesh crawl
  7. to fail to stay evenly spread used of paint, varnish, or glaze
  8. to move upon in or as if in a creeping manner
    • all the creatures that crawl the earth
  9. to reprove harshly
    • they got no good right to crawl me for what I wrote -- Marjorie K. Rawlings
  10. the act or action of crawling
  11. slow or laborious progress
  12. a going from one pub to another
  13. a fast swimming stroke executed in a prone position with alternating overarm strokes and a flutter kick
  14. 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

  1. one that crawls
  2. a vehicle (as a crane) that travels on endless chain belts

crawl space -n

  1. 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

  1. a low passageway (as in a cave) that can be traversed only by crawling

crawly ['krȯ-lē] -adj

  1. creepy
  2. marked by crawling or slow motion
    • crawly creatures

cray·fish ['krā-,fish] -n

  1. any of numerous freshwater decapod crustaceans (esp. families Astacidea, Cambaridae, and Parastacidae) resembling the lobster but usu. much smaller
  2. spiny lobster

cray·on ['krā-,än, -ən also 'kran] -n

  1. a stick of white or colored chalk or of colored wax used for writing or drawing
  2. a crayon drawing

crayon ['krā-ə-nist] -vt, n

  1. to draw with a crayon

craze ['krāz] -vb

  1. break, shatter
  2. to produce minute cracks on the surface or glaze of
    • crazed glass
  3. to make insane or as if insane
    • crazed by pain and fear
  4. shatter, break
  5. to become insane
  6. to develop a mesh of fine cracks
  7. an exaggerated and often transient enthusiasm : mania
    • the latest craze in music
  8. a crack in a surface or coating (as of glaze or enamel)

cra·zy ['krā-zē] -adj, adv, n

  1. full of cracks or flaws : unsound
    • they were very crazy, wretched cabins -- Charles Dickens
  2. crooked, askew
  3. mad, insane
    • yelling like a crazy man
  4. impractical
    • a crazy plan
  5. erratic
    • crazy drivers
  6. being out of the ordinary : unusual
    • a taste for crazy hats
  7. distracted with desire or excitement
    • a thrill- crazy mob
  8. absurdly fond : infatuated
    • he's crazy about the girl
  9. passionately preoccupied : obsessed
    • crazy about boats

crazy -n

  1. one who is or acts crazy
  2. such a one associated with a radical or extremist political cause
  3. extremely, wildly
    • crazy good

crazy bone -n

  1. funny bone

crazy quilt -n

  1. a patchwork quilt without a design
  2. jumble, hodgepodge
    • a crazy quilt of regulations

crazyquilt -adj

  1. resembling a crazy quilt : haphazard
    • a crazyquilt system

cra·zy·weed ['krā-zē-,wēd] -n

  1. locoweed

CRC -abbr

  1. Civil Rights Commission

Cre·ac·tive protein ['sē-rē-'ak-tiv-] -n

  1. a protein present in blood serum in various abnormal states (as inflammation or neoplasia)

creak ['krēk] -vi

  1. to make a prolonged grating or squeaking sound often as a result of being worn-out
  2. to proceed slowly with or as if with creaking wheels
    • the story creak s along to a dull conclusion
  3. a rasping or grating noise

creaky ['krē-kē] -adj, adv, n

  1. marked by creaking : squeaky
    • creaky shoes
  2. showing signs of deterioration or decrepitude
    • a creaky old house
    • a creaky economy

cream ['krēm] -n

  1. the yellowish part of milk containing from 18 to about 40 percent butterfat
  2. a food prepared with cream
  3. something having the consistency of cream
  4. a usu. emulsified medicinal or cosmetic preparation
  5. the choicest part : best
    • the cream of the crop
  6. creamer
  7. a pale yellow
  8. a cream-colored animal
  9. to form cream or a surface layer like the cream on standing milk
  10. to break into or cause something to break into a creamy froth
  11. to move like froth
  12. skim
  13. to remove (something choice) from an aggregate
    • she has cream ed off her favorite stories from her earlier books -- Times Lit. Supp.
  14. to furnish, prepare, or treat with cream
  15. to dress with a cream sauce
  16. to beat into a creamy froth
  17. to work or blend to the consistency of cream
    • cream butter and sugar together
  18. to cause to form a surface layer of or like cream
  19. to defeat decisively
    • was cream ed in the first round
  20. wreck
    • cream ed the car on the turnpike
  21. to hit with force : smash
    • the quarterback got cream ed by the pass rush

cream cheese -n

  1. 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

  1. a California annual ( Platystemon californicus) of the poppy family

cream·er ['krē-mər] -n

  1. a small vessel for serving cream
  2. a nondairy product used as a substitute for cream (as in coffee)

cream·ery ['krēm-rē, 'kre-mə-] -n

  1. an establishment where butter and cheese are made or where milk and cream are prepared or sold

cream of tartar

  1. a white crystalline salt C 4H 5KO 6used esp. in baking powder and in certain treatments of metals

cream puff -n

  1. a round shell of light pastry filled with whipped cream or a cream filling
  2. an ineffectual person
  3. something trifling, inconsiderable, or easily dealt with
  4. a usu. used motor vehicle that is in especially good condition

cream soda -n

  1. a carbonated soft drink flavored with vanilla

cream·ware ['krēm-,wer] -n

  1. earthenware having a cream-colored glaze

creamy ['krē-mē] -adj, adv, n

  1. containing cream
  2. resembling cream (as in color, texture, or taste)
    • a creamy consistency
    • creamy skin
    • a creamy voice

crease ['krēs] -n, adj

  1. a line, mark, or ridge made by or as if by folding a pliable substance
  2. a specially marked area in various sports
  3. an area surrounding or in front of a goal (as in lacrosse or hockey)
  4. to make a crease in or on : wrinkle
    • a smile creased her face
  5. to wound slightly esp. by grazing
    • creased by a bullet
  6. to become creased

cre·ate [krē-'āt, 'krē-,] -vb

  1. to bring into existence
    • God created the heaven and the earth -- Gen 1:1(AV)
  2. to invest with a new form, office, or rank
    • was created a lieutenant
  3. to produce or bring about by a course of action or behavior
    • her arrival created a terrible fuss
    • create new jobs
  4. cause, occasion
    • famine create s high food prices
  5. to produce through imaginative skill
    • create a painting
  6. design
    • create s dresses
  7. to make or bring into existence something new
  8. to set up a scoring opportunity in basketball
    • create off the dribble

create -adj

  1. created

cre·a·tine ['krē-ə-,tēn, -tᵊn] -n

  1. a white crystalline nitrogenous substance C 4H 9N 3O 2found esp. in the muscles of vertebrates either free or as phosphocreatine
  2. a synthetic usu. hydrated form of creatine taken esp. as a dietary supplement

creatine kinase -n

  1. 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

  1. phosphocreatine

cre·at·i·nine [krē-'a-tə-,nēn, -ən] -n

  1. 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

  1. the act of creating
  2. the act of bringing the world into ordered existence
  3. : the act of making, inventing, or producing: as
  4. the act of investing with a new rank or office
  5. the first representation of a dramatic role
  6. : something that is created: as
  7. world
  8. creatures singly or in aggregate
  9. an original work of art
  10. a new usu. striking article of clothing

cre·a·tion·ism [-shə-,ni-zəm] -n, n or adj

  1. 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

  1. creationism
  2. scientific evidence or arguments put forth in support of creationism

cre·a·tive [krē-'ā-tiv, 'krē-,] -adj, adv, n

  1. marked by the ability or power to create : given to creating
    • the creative impulse
  2. having the quality of something created rather than imitated : imaginative
    • the creative arts
  3. managed so as to get around legal or conventional limits
    • creative financing
  4. deceptively arranged so as to conceal or defraud
    • creative accounting

creative -n

  1. one who is creative
  2. one involved in the creation of advertisements
  3. creative activity or the material produced by it esp. in advertising

creative evolution -n

  1. 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

  1. the quality of being creative
  2. the ability to create

cre·a·tor [krē-'ā-tər] -n

  1. one that creates usu. by bringing something new or original into being
  2. god

crea·ture ['krē-chər] -n, adj

  1. : something created either animate or inanimate: as
  2. a lower animal
  3. a farm animal
  4. a human being
  5. a being of anomalous or uncertain aspect or nature
    • creature s of fantasy
  6. one that is the servile dependent or tool of another : instrument

creature comfort -n

  1. something (as food, warmth, or special accommodations) that gives bodily comfort

creche ['kresh, 'krāsh] -n

  1. a representation of the Nativity scene
  2. day nursery
  3. a foundling hospital
  4. 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

  1. credibility
  2. 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

  1. mental acceptance as true or real
    • give credence to gossip
  2. credibility
    • lends credence to the theory
  3. credentials used in the phrase letters of credence
  4. a Renaissance sideboard used chiefly for valuable plate
  5. a small table where the bread and wine rest before consecration

cre·dent ['krē-dᵊnt] -adj

  1. giving credence : confiding
  2. credible

cre·den·tial [kri-'den(t)-shəl] -adj

  1. warranting credit or confidence used chiefly in the phrase credential letters

credential -n

  1. something that gives a title to credit or confidence
  2. qualification
  3. testimonials or certified documents showing that a person is entitled to credit or has a right to exercise official power
  4. certificate, diploma
  5. to furnish with credentials
    • to credential adequate academic performance -- K. Patricia Cross

cre·den·tial·ism [-shə-,li-zəm] -n

  1. undue emphasis on credentials (as college degrees) as prerequisites to employment

cre·den·za [kri-'den-zə] -n

  1. credence
  2. a sideboard, buffet, or bookcase patterned after a Renaissance credence
  3. one without legs

cred·i·bil·i·ty [,kre-də-'bi-lə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or power of inspiring belief
    • an account lacking in credibility
  2. capacity for belief
    • strains her reader's credibility -- Times Lit. Supp.

credibility gap -n

  1. lack of trust
    • a credibility gap between generations
  2. lack of believability
    • a credibility gap created by contradictory official statements -- Samuel Ellenport
  3. discrepancy
    • the credibility gap between the professed ideals...and their actual practices -- Jeanne L. Noble

cred·i·ble ['kre-də-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. offering reasonable grounds for being believed
    • a credible account of an accident
    • credible witnesses
  2. of sufficient capability to be militarily effective
    • a credible deterrent
    • credible forces

cred·it ['kre-dit] -n

  1. reliance on the truth or reality of something
    • gave credit to everything he said
  2. the balance in a person's favor in an account
  3. an amount or sum placed at a person's disposal by a bank
  4. the provision of money, goods, or services with the expectation of future payment
    • long-term credit
  5. money, goods, or services so provided
    • exhausted their credit
  6. an entry on the right-hand side of an account constituting an addition to a revenue, net worth, or liability account
  7. a deduction from an expense or asset account
  8. any one of or the sum of the items entered on the right-hand side of an account
  9. a deduction from an amount otherwise due
  10. influence or power derived from enjoying the confidence of another or others
  11. good name : esteem
  12. financial or commercial trustworthiness
  13. credibility
  14. a source of honor
    • a credit to the school
  15. something that gains or adds to reputation or esteem : honor
    • took no credit for his kindly act
  16. recognition, acknowledgment
    • quite willing to accept undeserved credit
  17. recognition by name of a person contributing to a performance (as a film or telecast)
    • the opening credit s
  18. recognition by a school or college that a student has fulfilled a requirement leading to a degree
  19. credit hour

credit -vt

  1. to trust in the truth of : believe
    • find his story hard to credit
  2. to supply goods on credit to
  3. to bring credit or honor upon
  4. to enter upon the credit side of an account
  5. to place an amount to the credit of
    • credit his account with ten dollars
  6. 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
  7. to attribute to some person
    • they credit the invention to him

cred·it·able ['kre-di-tə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. worthy of belief
    • a creditable report
  2. sufficiently good to bring esteem or praise
    • a creditable performance
  3. worthy of commercial credit
  4. capable of being assigned

credit card -n

  1. a card authorizing purchases on credit

credit hour -n

  1. the unit of measuring educational credit usu. based on the number of classroom hours per week throughout a term

credit line -n

  1. line of credit
  2. 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

  1. one to whom a debt is owed
  2. a person to whom money or goods are due

credit union -n

  1. 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

  1. financially sound enough to justify the extension of credit

cre·do ['krē-(,)dō, 'krā-] -n

  1. creed

cre·du·li·ty [kri-'dü-lə-tē, -'dyü-] -n

  1. readiness or willingness to believe esp. on slight or uncertain evidence

cred·u·lous ['kre-jə-ləs] -adj, adv, n

  1. ready to believe esp. on slight or uncertain evidence
    • accused of swindling credulous investors
  2. proceeding from credulity
    • credulous superstitions

Cree ['krē] -n

  1. a member of an American Indian people of Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan
  2. the Algonquian language of the Cree people

creed ['krēd] -n, adj

  1. a brief authoritative formula of religious belief
  2. a set of fundamental beliefs
  3. a guiding principle

creek ['krēk, 'krik] -n

  1. a small inlet or bay narrower and extending farther inland than a cove
  2. a natural stream of water normally smaller than and often tributary to a river
  3. a narrow or winding passage

Creek ['krēk] -n

  1. an American Indian confederacy of peoples chiefly of Muskogean stock of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida
  2. a member of any of the Creek peoples
  3. the Muskogean language of the Creek Indians

creel ['krēl] -n

  1. a wicker basket (as for carrying newly caught fish)
  2. a bar with skewers for holding bobbins in a spinning machine
  3. to put (caught fish) in a creel

creep ['krēp] -vi

  1. to move along with the body prone and close to the ground
  2. to move slowly on hands and knees
  3. to go very slowly
    • the hours crept by
  4. to go timidly or cautiously so as to escape notice
    • she crept away from the festive scene
  5. to enter or advance gradually so as to be almost unnoticed
    • age creep s up on us
    • a note of irritation crept into her voice
  6. to have the sensation of being covered with creeping things
    • the thought made his flesh creep
  7. to spread or grow over a surface rooting at intervals or clinging with tendrils, stems, or aerial roots
  8. to slip or gradually shift position
  9. to change shape permanently from prolonged stress or exposure to high temperatures
  10. a movement of or like creeping
    • traffic moving at a creep
  11. a distressing sensation like that caused by the creeping of insects over one's flesh
  12. a feeling of apprehension or horror usu. used in pl. with the
    • that gives me the creeps
  13. a feed trough accessible only by young animals and used esp. to supply special or supplementary feed called also creep feeder
  14. the slow change of dimensions of an object from prolonged exposure to high temperature or stress
  15. an unpleasant or obnoxious person
  16. a slow but persistent increase or elevation
    • this political inertia...makes budget creep inevitable -- Wall Street Jour.

creep·age ['krē-pij] -n

  1. gradual movement : creep

creep·er ['krē-pər] -n

  1. : one that creeps: as
  2. a creeping plant
  3. a bird (as of the family Certhiidae) that creeps about on trees or bushes searching for insects
  4. a creeping insect or reptile
  5. : any of various devices used for creeping: as
  6. a fixture with iron points worn on the shoe to prevent slipping
  7. a low wheeled platform for supporting the body when working under an automobile
  8. a usu. one-piece garment for a child at the crawling age

creep·ing ['krē-piŋ] -adj

  1. developing or advancing by slow imperceptible degrees
    • a period of creeping inflation

creeping eruption -n

  1. 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

  1. producing a nervous shivery apprehension
    • a creepy horror story
  2. eerie
  3. of, relating to, or being a creep : annoyingly unpleasant

cre·mains [kri-'mānz] -n pl

  1. the ashes of a cremated human body

cre·mate ['krē-,māt, kri-'] -vt, n

  1. to reduce (as a dead body) to ashes by burning

cre·ma·to·ri·um [,krē-mə-'tȯr-ē-əm, ,kre-] -n

  1. crematory

cre·ma·to·ry ['krē-mə-,tȯr-ē, 'kre-] -n, adj

  1. a furnace for cremating
  2. an establishment containing such a furnace

creme ['krem also 'krēm or 'krām] -n

  1. a sweet liqueur
  2. cream or a preparation made with or resembling cream used in cooking
  3. cream

creme an·glaise [-äŋ-'glāz, -aŋ-, -äⁿ-'glez] -n

  1. a vanilla-flavored custard sauce usu. served with desserts

creme bru·lee [-brᵫ-'lā, -brü-] -n

  1. a rich custard topped with caramelized sugar

creme car·a·mel [-kä-rə-'mel, or see caramel] -n

  1. 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

  1. a sweet brown or colorless liqueur flavored with cacao beans and vanilla

creme de cas·sis [,krem-də-kə-'sēs] -n

  1. a liqueur made from black currants

creme de la creme ['krem-də-lä-'krem, -lə-] -n

  1. the very best

creme de menthe ['krem-də-'men(t)th, 'krēm-, -'mint, 'krem-də-'mänt] -n

  1. a sweet green or colorless mint-flavored liqueur

creme fraiche ['krem-'fresh also 'krēm- or 'krām-] -n

  1. heavy cream thickened and slightly soured with buttermilk and often served on fruit

cre·mi·ni [kri-'mē-nē] -n

  1. 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

  1. having the margin or surface cut into rounded scallops
    • a crenate leaf

cre·na·tion [kri-'nā-shən] -n

  1. a crenate formation
  2. one of the rounded projections on an edge (as of a coin)
  3. the quality or state of being crenate
  4. shrinkage of red blood cells resulting in crenate margins

cren·el·lat·ed ['kre-nə-,lā-təd] -adj

  1. having crenellations
    • a crenellated wall

cren·el·la·tion [,kre-nə-'lā-shən] -n

  1. battlement
  2. any of the embrasures alternating with merlons in a battlement

cren·shaw ['kren-,shȯ] -n

  1. a winter melon having smooth green and gold skin and sweet salmon-colored flesh

cren·u·lat·ed ['kren-yə-,lā-təd] -adj, n

  1. having an irregularly wavy or serrate outline
    • a crenulated shoreline

cre·ole ['krē-,ōl] -adj

  1. of or relating to Creoles or their language
  2. relating to or being highly seasoned food typically prepared with rice, okra, tomatoes, and peppers
    • shrimp creole

Cre·ole ['krē-,ōl] -n

  1. a person of European descent born esp. in the West Indies or Spanish America
  2. a white person descended from early French or Spanish settlers of the U.S. Gulf states and preserving their speech and culture
  3. a person of mixed French or Spanish and black descent speaking a dialect of French or Spanish
  4. a language evolved from pidginized French that is spoken by blacks in southern Louisiana
  5. haitian
  6. 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)

  1. to cause (a pidginized language) to become a creole in a speech community

cre·ol·ize ['krē-ə-,līz, 'krē-,ō-] -vt, n

  1. to cause (a pidginized language) to become a creole in a speech community

cre·o·sote ['krē-ə-,sōt] -n

  1. 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
  2. a brownish oily liquid consisting chiefly of aromatic hydrocarbons obtained by distillation of coal tar and used esp. as a wood preservative
  3. a dark brown or black flammable tar deposited from esp. wood smoke on the walls of a chimney
  4. creosote bush

creosote -vt

  1. to treat with creosote

creosote bush -n

  1. a resinous desert shrub ( Larrea tridentata) of the caltrop family found in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico

crepe ['krāp] -n, adj

  1. a light crinkled fabric woven of any of various fibers
  2. crape
  3. crude rubber in the form of nearly white to brown crinkled sheets used esp. for shoe soles
    • crepe- soled shoes
  4. a small very thin pancake

crepe de chine [,krāp-də-'shēn] -n

  1. a soft fine or sheer clothing crepe esp. of silk

crepe myrtle -n

  1. crape myrtle

crepe paper -n

  1. paper with a crinkled or puckered texture

crepe su·zette [,krāp-sü-'zet] -n

  1. 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

  1. having or making a crackling sound
    • crepitant sounds in breathing

crep·i·tate ['kre-pə-,tāt] -vi, n

  1. to make a crackling sound : crackle

cre·pon ['krā-,pän] -n

  1. a heavy crepe fabric with lengthwise crinkles

crept ['krēp] -vi

(variant of creep)

  1. to move along with the body prone and close to the ground
  2. to move slowly on hands and knees
  3. to go very slowly
    • the hours crept by
  4. to go timidly or cautiously so as to escape notice
    • she crept away from the festive scene
  5. to enter or advance gradually so as to be almost unnoticed
    • age creep s up on us
    • a note of irritation crept into her voice
  6. to have the sensation of being covered with creeping things
    • the thought made his flesh creep
  7. to spread or grow over a surface rooting at intervals or clinging with tendrils, stems, or aerial roots
  8. to slip or gradually shift position
  9. to change shape permanently from prolonged stress or exposure to high temperatures
  10. a movement of or like creeping
    • traffic moving at a creep
  11. a distressing sensation like that caused by the creeping of insects over one's flesh
  12. a feeling of apprehension or horror usu. used in pl. with the
    • that gives me the creeps
  13. a feed trough accessible only by young animals and used esp. to supply special or supplementary feed called also creep feeder
  14. the slow change of dimensions of an object from prolonged exposure to high temperature or stress
  15. an unpleasant or obnoxious person
  16. 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

  1. of, relating to, or resembling twilight : dim
    • crepuscular light
  2. occurring or active during twilight
    • crepuscular insects
    • crepuscular activity

cre·pus·cule [kri-'pəs-(,)kyül] -n

  1. twilight

cresc -abbr

  1. crescendo

cre·scen·do [krə-'shen-(,)dō] -n, vi

  1. a gradual increase
  2. a gradual increase in volume of a musical passage
  3. the peak of a gradual increase : climax
    • complaints about stifling smog conditions reach a crescendo -- Down Beat
  4. a crescendo musical passage

crescendo -adv or adj

  1. with an increase in volume used as a direction in music

cres·cent ['kre-sᵊnt] -n, adj

  1. 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
  2. the figure of the moon at such a stage defined by a convex and a concave edge
  3. something shaped like a crescent

crescent -adj

  1. marked by an increase : increasing
    • my powers are crescent -- Shak.

Cres·cent ['kre-sᵊnt] -trademark

  1. used for an adjustable open-end wrench

cres·cive ['kre-siv] -adj, adv

  1. marked by gradual spontaneous development

cre·sol ['krē-,sȯl, -,sōl] -n

  1. any of three poisonous colorless crystalline or liquid isomeric phenols C 7H 8O

cress ['kres] -n

  1. : any of various crucifers with moderately pungent leaves used esp. in salads: as
  2. a watercress ( Nasturtium officinale)
  3. garden cress

cres·set ['kre-sət] -n

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. a showy tuft or process on the head of an animal and esp. a bird
  2. the plume or identifying emblem worn on a knight's helmet
  3. the top of a helmet
  4. a heraldic representation of the crest
  5. a heraldic device depicted above the escutcheon but not upon a helmet
  6. coat of arms
  7. a ridge or prominence on a part of an animal body
  8. : something suggesting a crest esp. in being an upper prominence, edge, or limit: as
  9. peak
  10. the top line of a mountain or hill
  11. the ridge of a roof
  12. the top of a wave
  13. a high point of an action or process and esp. of one that is rhythmic
  14. climax, culmination
    • at the crest of his fame
  15. to furnish with a crest
  16. crown
  17. to reach the crest of
    • crest ed the hill and looked around
  18. to rise to a crest
    • waves crest ing in the storm

crest·ed ['kres-təd] -adj

  1. having a crest
    • a crested bird

crested wheatgrass -n

  1. 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

  1. having a drooping crest or hanging head
  2. feeling shame or humiliation : dejected

crest·ing ['kres-tiŋ] -n

  1. a decorative edging or railing (as on pottery or furniture)

Cre·ta·ceous [kri-'tā-shəs] -adj, n

  1. 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
  2. of, relating to, or being the corresponding system of rocks

cre·tin ['krē-tᵊn] -n, adj

  1. one afflicted with cretinism
  2. a stupid, vulgar, or insensitive person : clod, lout

cre·tin·ism [-tᵊn-,i-zəm] -n

  1. a usu. congenital abnormal condition marked by physical stunting and mental retardation and caused by severe hypothyroidism

cre·tonne ['krē-,tän, kri-'] -n

  1. a strong cotton or linen cloth used esp. for curtains and upholstery

Creutz·feldtJa·kob disease ['krȯits-,felt-'yä-(,)kōb-] -n

  1. 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

  1. any of several carangid fishes (genus Caranx)
  2. jack crevalle

cre·vasse [kri-'vas] -n

  1. a breach in a levee
  2. a deep crevice or fissure (as in a glacier or the earth)

crev·ice ['kre-vəs] -n

  1. a narrow opening resulting from a split or crack (as in a cliff) : fissure

crew ['krō] -n

(variant of crow)

  1. any of various large usu. entirely glossy black passerine birds (family Corvidae and esp. genus Corvus)
  2. a member of an American Indian people of the region between the Platte and Yellowstone rivers
  3. the language of the Crow people
  4. corvus
  5. humble pie
    • the braggart was forced to eat crow
  6. to make the loud shrill sound characteristic of a cock
  7. to utter a sound expressive of pleasure
  8. to exult gloatingly esp. over the distress of another
  9. to brag exultantly or blatantly
  10. to say with self-satisfaction
  11. the cry of the cock
  12. a triumphant cry

crew chief -n

  1. one who is in charge of a crew of workers
  2. a noncommissioned officer (as in the air force) who supervises an airplane's ground crew

crew cut -n

  1. 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

  1. slackly twisted worsted yarn used for embroidery
  2. crewelwork

crew·el·work [-,wərk] -n

  1. embroidery work with crewel

crew·man ['krü-mən] -n

  1. a member of a crew

crew·mate [-,māt] -n

  1. a fellow crewman

crew neck ['krü-,nek] -n

  1. a round collarless neckline
  2. a sweater with a crew neck

crew sock -n

  1. a short bulky usu. ribbed sock

crib ['krib] -n

  1. a manger for feeding animals
  2. : an enclosure esp. of framework: as
  3. a stall for a stabled animal
  4. a small child's bedstead with high enclosing usu. slatted sides
  5. any of various devices resembling a crate or framework in structure
  6. a building for storage : bin
  7. a small narrow room or dwelling : hut, shack
  8. a room or shack used for prostitution
  9. the cards discarded in cribbage for the dealer to use in scoring
  10. a small theft
  11. plagiarism
  12. a literal translation
  13. pony
  14. a summary and key to understanding a literary work
  15. something used for cheating in an examination
  16. creche
  17. confine, cramp
  18. to provide with or put into a crib
  19. to line or support with a framework of timber
  20. pilfer, steal
  21. plagiarize
  22. steal, plagiarize
  23. to use a crib : cheat
  24. to have the vice of cribbing

crib·bage ['kri-bij] -n

  1. a card game for two players in which each player tries to form various counting combinations of cards

crib·bing ['kri-biŋ] -n

  1. material for use in making a crib
  2. a vice of horses in which they grasp a solid object (as a stall door) with their teeth and gulp air

crib biting -n

  1. cribbing

crib death -n

  1. sudden infant death syndrome

crib·ri·form ['kri-brə-,fȯrm] -adj

  1. pierced with small holes

crib sheet -n

  1. cheat sheet

cri·ce·tid [krī-'sē-təd, -'se-] -n, adj

  1. 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

  1. a painful spasmodic condition of muscles (as of the neck or back)
  2. to cause a crick in (as the neck)
  3. to turn or twist (as the head) esp. into a strained position

crick·et ['kri-kət] -n

  1. 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
  2. a low wooden footstool
  3. a small metal toy or signaling device that makes a sharp click or snap when pressed

cricket -n

  1. 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
  2. fair and honorable behavior
    • it wasn't cricket for her to break her contract -- Gerry Nadel
  3. to play the game of cricket

cri·coid ['krī-,kȯid] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being a cartilage of the larynx with which arytenoid cartilages articulate

cri de coeur [,krē-də-'kər] -n

  1. a passionate outcry (as of appeal or protest)

cri·er ['krī(-ə)r] -n

  1. : one that cries:
  2. an officer who proclaims the orders of a court
  3. town crier

cri·key ['krī-kē] -interj

  1. used as a mild oath

crim -abbr

  1. criminal

crim con -abbr

  1. criminal conversation

crime ['krīm] -n, adj

  1. 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
  2. a gross violation of law
  3. a grave offense esp. against morality
  4. criminal activity
    • efforts to fight crime
  5. something reprehensible, foolish, or disgraceful
    • it's a crime to waste good food

crime against humanity

  1. 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

  1. sodomy

crim·i·nal ['kri-mə-nᵊl, 'krim-nəl] -adj, adv

  1. relating to, involving, or being a crime
    • criminal neglect
  2. relating to crime or to the prosecution of suspects in a crime
    • criminal statistics
    • brought criminal action
  3. guilty of crime
  4. of or befitting a criminal
    • a criminal mind
  5. disgraceful

criminal -n

  1. one who has committed a crime
  2. a person who has been convicted of a crime

criminal conversation -n

  1. adultery considered as a tort

criminal court -n

  1. a court that has jurisdiction to try and punish offenders against criminal law

crim·i·nal·ist ['kri-mə-nᵊl-ist] -n

  1. a specialist in criminalistics

crim·i·nal·is·tics [,kri-mə-nᵊl-'is-tiks, ,krim-nə-'lis-] -n pl but sing in constr

  1. application of scientific techniques in collecting and analyzing physical evidence in criminal cases

crim·i·nal·i·ty [,kri-mə-'na-lə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being criminal
  2. criminal activity
    • urban criminality

crim·i·nal·ize ['kri-mə-nᵊl-,īz, 'krim-nə-,līz] -vt, n

  1. to make illegal : outlaw
  2. to turn into a criminal or treat as criminal

criminal law -n

  1. the law of crimes and their punishments

criminal lawyer -n

  1. a lawyer who specializes in criminal law
  2. a lawyer who represents defendants in criminal cases

crim·i·nate ['kri-mə-,nāt] -vt, n

  1. incriminate

crimini [kri-'mē-nē] -n

(variant of cremini)

  1. 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

  1. the scientific study of crime as a social phenomenon, of criminals, and of penal treatment

crim·i·nous ['kri-mə-nəs] -adj

  1. criminal

crim·i·ny ['kri-mə-nē, 'krī-] -interj

  1. used as a mild oath or to express surprise

crimp ['krimp] -vt, n

  1. : to cause to become wavy, bent, or pinched: as
  2. to form (leather) into a desired shape
  3. to give (synthetic fibers) a curl or wave like that of natural fibers
  4. to pinch or press together (as the margins of a pie crust) in order to seal
  5. to be an inhibiting or restraining influence on : cramp
    • sales had been crimp ed by credit controls -- Time
  6. : something produced by or as if by crimping: as
  7. a section of hair artificially waved or curled
  8. a succession of waves (as in wool fiber)
  9. a bend or crease formed in something
  10. something that cramps or inhibits : restraint, curb
  11. a person who entraps or forces men into shipping as sailors or into enlisting in an army or navy
  12. to trap into military or sea service : impress

crimpy ['krim-pē] -adj

  1. frizzy

crim·son ['krim-zən] -n

  1. any of several deep purplish reds

crimson -adj

  1. of the color crimson
  2. to make crimson
  3. to become crimson
  4. blush

crimson clover -n

  1. 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

  1. to draw in or contract one's muscles involuntarily (as from cold or pain)
  2. to shrink in fear or servility
  3. to behave in an excessively humble or servile way
  4. to recoil in distaste
    • Americans cringed ...at the use of a term now regarded as a slur -- William Safire
  5. a cringing act
  6. a servile bow

crin·gle ['kriŋ-gəl] -n

  1. a loop or grommet at the corner of a sail to which a line is attached

crin·kle ['kriŋ-kəl] -vb

  1. to form many short bends or ripples
  2. wrinkle
  3. to give forth a thin crackling sound : rustle
    • crinkling silks
  4. to cause to crinkle : make crinkles in

crinkle [-k(ə-)lē] -n, adj

  1. wrinkle, corrugation, pucker
  2. any of several virus diseases of plants marked by crinkling of leaves

cri·noid ['krī-,nȯid] -n, adj

  1. 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

  1. an open-weave fabric of horsehair or cotton that is usu. stiffened and used esp. for interlinings and millinery
  2. a full stiff skirt or underskirt made of crinoline
  3. hoopskirt

cri·o·llo [krē-'ōl-(,)yō, -'ō-(,)yō] -n, adj

  1. a person of pure Spanish descent born in Spanish America
  2. a person born and usu. raised in a Spanish-American country
  3. a domestic animal of a breed or strain (as of cattle) developed in Latin America
  4. any of a breed of hardy muscular ponies orig. developed in Argentina

cripes ['krīps] -interj

  1. used as a mild oath

crip·ple ['kri-pəl] -n

  1. a lame or partly disabled person or animal
  2. one that is disabled or deficient in a specified manner
    • a social cripple
  3. something flawed or imperfect

cripple -adj

  1. being lame, flawed, or imperfect
  2. to deprive of the use of a limb and esp. a leg
    • the accident left him crippled
  3. to deprive of capability for service or of strength, efficiency, or wholeness
    • an economy crippled by inflation

cri·sis ['krī-səs] -n

  1. the turning point for better or worse in an acute disease or fever
  2. a paroxysmal attack of pain, distress, or disordered function
  3. an emotionally significant event or radical change of status in a person's life
    • a midlife crisis
  4. the decisive moment (as in a literary plot)
  5. an unstable or crucial time or state of affairs in which a decisive change is impending
  6. one with the distinct possibility of a highly undesirable outcome
    • a financial crisis
  7. a situation that has reached a critical phase
    • the environmental crisis

crisp ['krisp] -adj, adv, n

  1. curly, wavy
  2. having close stiff or wiry curls or waves
  3. easily crumbled : brittle
    • a crisp cracker
  4. desirably firm and crunchy
    • crisp lettuce
  5. notably sharp, clean-cut, and clear
    • a crisp illustration
  6. concise and to the point
    • a crisp reply
  7. noticeably neat
    • crisp new clothes
  8. brisk, lively
    • a crisp tale of intrigue
    • crisp musical tempi
  9. briskly cold
    • crisp winter weather
  10. fresh, invigorating
    • crisp autumn air
    • a crisp white wine
  11. deftly and powerfully executed
    • a crisp tennis serve
  12. curl, crimp
  13. to cause to ripple : wrinkle
  14. to make or keep crisp
  15. curl
  16. ripple
  17. to become crisp
  18. something crisp or brittle
    • burned to a crisp
    • rye crisp s
  19. potato chip usu. used in pl.
  20. a baked dessert of fruit with crumb topping
    • apple crisp

crisp·bread ['krisp-,bred] -n

  1. a plain dry unsweetened cracker made from crushed grain (as wheat or rye)

crisp·en ['kris-pən] -vt

  1. to make crisp
  2. to become crisp

crisp·er ['kris-pər] -n

  1. one that crisps
  2. a closed container in a refrigerator intended to prevent loss of moisture from fresh produce

crisp·head ['krisp-,hed] -n

  1. iceberg lettuce

crispy ['kris-pē] -adj, n

  1. crisp
    • crispy hair
  2. appealingly crunchy : crisp
    • crispy fried chicken

criss·cross ['kris-,krȯs] -vb

  1. to mark with intersecting lines
  2. to pass back and forth through or over
  3. to go or pass back and forth
  4. overlap, intersect

crisscross -adj, adv

  1. marked or characterized by crisscrossing
  2. a crisscross pattern : network
  3. the state of being at cross-purposes
  4. a confused state

cris·ta ['kris-tə] -n

  1. any of the inwardly projecting folds of the inner membrane of a mitochondrion

crit -abbr

  1. critical; criticism; criticized

cri·te·ri·on [krī-'tir-ē-ən also krə-] -n

  1. a standard on which a judgment or decision may be based
  2. a characterizing mark or trait

cri·te·ri·um [krī-'tir-ē-əm, krē-ter-'yȯm] -n

  1. 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

  1. one who expresses a reasoned opinion on any matter esp. involving a judgment of its value, truth, righteousness, beauty, or technique
  2. one who engages often professionally in the analysis, evaluation, or appreciation of works of art or artistic performances
  3. one given to harsh or captious judgment

critic -n

  1. criticism
  2. critique

crit·i·cal ['kri-ti-kəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. : of, relating to, or being a turning point or specially important juncture
    • a critical phase
    : as
  2. relating to or being the stage of a disease at which an abrupt change for better or worse may be expected
  3. being or relating to an illness or condition involving danger of death
    • critical care
    • a patient listed in critical condition
  4. relating to or being a state in which or a measurement or point at which some quality, property, or phenomenon suffers a definite change
    • critical temperature
  5. crucial, decisive
    • a critical test
  6. indispensable, vital
    • a critical waterfowl habitat
    • a component critical to the operation of a machine
  7. being in or approaching a state of crisis
    • a critical shortage
    • a critical situation
  8. inclined to criticize severely and unfavorably
  9. consisting of or involving criticism
    • critical writings
  10. of or relating to the judgment of critics
    • the play was a critical success
  11. exercising or involving careful judgment or judicious evaluation
    • critical thinking
  12. including variant readings and scholarly emendations
    • a critical edition
  13. of sufficient size to sustain a chain reaction used of a mass of fissionable material
    • a critical mass
  14. sustaining a nuclear chain reaction
    • the reactor went critical

critical angle -n

  1. the least angle of incidence at which total reflection takes place

critical mass -n

  1. 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

  1. a point on the graph of a function where the derivative is zero or infinite

critical region -n

  1. the set of outcomes of a statistical test for which the null hypothesis is to be rejected

critical value -n

  1. the value of an independent variable corresponding to a critical point of a function

crit·ic·as·ter ['kri-ti-,kas-tər] -n

  1. an inferior or petty critic

crit·i·cise ['kri-tə-,sīz] -vb, adj, n

(variant of criticize)

  1. to act as a critic
  2. to consider the merits and demerits of and judge accordingly : evaluate
  3. to find fault with : point out the faults of

crit·i·cism ['kri-tə-,si-zəm] -n

  1. the act of criticizing usu. unfavorably
    • seeking encouragement rather than criticism
  2. a critical observation or remark
    • an unfair criticism
  3. critique
  4. the art of evaluating or analyzing works of art or literature
  5. writings expressing such evaluation or analysis
    • an anthology of literary criticism
  6. 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

  1. to act as a critic
  2. to consider the merits and demerits of and judge accordingly : evaluate
  3. to find fault with : point out the faults of

cri·tique [krə-'tēk, kri-] -n

  1. an act of criticizing
  2. a critical estimate or discussion
    • a critique of the poet's work

critique -vt

  1. to examine critically : review
    • critique the plan

crit·ter ['kri-tər] -n

  1. creature

CRNA -abbr

  1. certified registered nurse anesthetist

croak ['krōk] -vb

  1. to make a deep harsh sound
  2. to speak in a hoarse throaty voice
  3. grumble
  4. die
  5. to utter in a hoarse raucous voice
  6. kill
  7. a hoarse harsh cry or sound

croak·er ['krō-kər] -n

  1. an animal (as a frog) that croaks
  2. any of various fishes and esp. the drums that produce croaking, drumming, or grunting noises
  3. doctor

Croat ['krō-,at also 'krō(-ə)t] -n, adj

  1. croatian

Cro·a·tian [krō-'ā-shən] -n, adj

  1. a native or inhabitant of Croatia
  2. a south Slavic language spoken by the Croatian people

croc ['kräk] -n

  1. crocodile

cro·chet [krō-'shā] -n

  1. needlework consisting of the interlocking of looped stitches formed with a single thread and a hooked needle

crochet [-'shā-ər] -vt, n

  1. to make of crochet
    • crochet ed a doily
  2. to work with crochet

cro·cid·o·lite [krō-'si-də-,līt] -n

  1. 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

  1. a thick earthenware pot or jar
  2. soot, smut
  3. coloring matter that rubs off from cloth or dyed leather
  4. bunkum usu. used with a
    • the story in the paper is a crock
  5. to put or preserve in a crock
  6. to soil with crock : smudge
  7. to transfer color (as when rubbed or washed)
    • a suede that will not crock
  8. one that is broken-down, disabled, or impaired
    • so many old...crock s with one foot in the grave -- Angus Wilson
  9. a complaining medical patient whose illness is largely imaginary or psychosomatic
  10. to cause to become disabled
  11. break down

crocked ['kräkt] -adj

  1. drunk

crock·ery ['krä-k(ə-)rē] -n

  1. earthenware

crock·et ['krä-kət] -n, adj

  1. an ornament usu. in the form of curved and bent foliage used on the edge of a gable or spire

CrockPot ['kräk-,pät] -trademark

  1. used for an electric cooking pot

croc·o·dile ['krä-kə-,dī(-ə)l] -n

  1. any of several large carnivorous thick-skinned long-bodied aquatic reptiles (family Crocodylidae) of tropical and subtropical waters
  2. crocodilian
  3. the skin or hide of a crocodile
  4. a line of people (as schoolchildren) usu. walking in pairs

crocodile bird -n

  1. 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

  1. false or affected tears
  2. hypocritical sorrow

croc·o·dil·ian [,krä-kə-'di-lē-ən, -'dil-yən] -n, adj

  1. any of an order (Crocodylia) of reptiles including the crocodiles, alligators, caimans, gharials, and related extinct forms

cro·cus ['krō-kəs] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Crocus) of herbs of the iris family developing from corms and having solitary long-tubed flowers and slender linear leaves
  2. saffron
  3. a dark red ferric oxide used for polishing metals

Croe·sus ['krē-səs] -n

  1. a very rich man

croft ['krȯft] -n

  1. a small enclosed field usu. adjoining a house
  2. a small farm worked by a tenant

Crohn's disease ['krōnz-] -n

  1. 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

  1. a flaky rich crescent-shaped roll

Croix de Guerre [,krwä-di-'ger] -n

  1. a French military decoration awarded for gallant action in war

cro·ker sack ['krō-kər-] -n

  1. a sack of a coarse material (as burlap)

CroMa·gnon [krō-'mag-nən, -'man-yən] -n

  1. 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

  1. dolmen
  2. a circle of monoliths usu. enclosing a dolmen or mound

crone ['krōn] -n

  1. a withered old woman

Cro·nus ['krō-nəs, 'krä-] -n

  1. a Titan dethroned by his son Zeus

cro·ny ['krō-nē] -n

  1. a close friend esp. of long standing : pal

cro·ny·ism [-nē-,i-zəm] -n

  1. partiality to cronies esp. as evidenced in the appointment of political hangers-on to office without regard to their qualifications

crook ['kru̇k] -vt

  1. bend
  2. curve, wind
  3. : an implement having a bent or hooked form: as
  4. pothook
  5. a shepherd's staff
  6. crosier
  7. a part of something that is hook-shaped, curved, or bent
    • the crook of an umbrella handle
  8. bend, curve
  9. a person who engages in fraudulent or criminal practices
  10. : not right:
  11. unsatisfactory
  12. dishonest, crooked
  13. irritable, angry used esp. in the phrase go crook
  14. ill, unwell

crook·back ['kru̇k-,bak] -n, adj

  1. a crooked back
  2. hunchback

crook·ed ['kru̇-kəd] -adj, adv, n

  1. not straight
    • a crooked road
    • your tie is crooked
  2. dishonest
    • a crooked election
    • crooked politicians

crook·ery ['kru̇-kə-rē] -n

  1. crooked dealings or practices

crook·neck ['kru̇k-,nek] -n

  1. a squash with a long recurved neck

croon ['krün] -vb, n

  1. bellow, boom
  2. to sing or speak in a gentle murmuring manner
  3. to sing in a soft intimate manner adapted to amplifying systems
  4. to sing (as a popular song or a lullaby) in a crooning manner

croon·er ['krü-nər] -n

  1. one that croons
  2. a singer of popular songs

crop ['kräp] -n

  1. a pouched enlargement of the gullet of many birds that serves as a receptacle for food and for its preliminary maceration
  2. an enlargement of the gullet of another animal (as an insect)
  3. a plant or animal or plant or animal product that can be grown and harvested extensively for profit or subsistence
    • an apple crop
    • a crop of wool
  4. the total yearly production from a specified area
  5. the product or yield of something formed together
    • the ice crop
  6. a batch or lot of something produced during a particular cycle
    • the current crop of films
  7. collection
    • a crop of lies
  8. the stock or handle of a whip
  9. a riding whip with a short straight stock and a loop
  10. the part of the chine of a quadruped (as a domestic cow) lying immediately behind the withers usu. used in pl.
  11. an earmark on an animal
  12. one made by a straight cut squarely removing the upper part of the ear
  13. a close cut of the hair
  14. to remove the upper or outer parts of
    • crop a hedge
    • crop a dog's ears
  15. harvest
    • crop trout
  16. to cut off short : trim
    • crop a photograph
  17. to cause (land) to bear a crop
    • planned to crop another 40 acres
  18. to grow as a crop
  19. to feed by cropping something
  20. to yield or make a crop
  21. to appear unexpectedly or casually
    • problems crop up daily

crop circle -n

  1. 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

  1. a person who sprays crops with fungicidal or insecticidal dusts from an airplane
  2. the airplane used for such spraying

cropeared ['kräp-,ird] -adj

  1. having the ears cropped

crop·land [-,land] -n

  1. land that is suited to or used for crops

crop·per ['krä-pər] -n

  1. one that crops
  2. one that raises crops
  3. sharecropper

cropper -n

  1. a severe fall
  2. a sudden or violent failure or collapse

crop rotation -n

  1. 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

  1. a game in which players using mallets drive wooden balls through a series of wickets set out on a lawn
  2. the act of driving away an opponent's croquet ball by striking one's own ball placed against it

cro·quette [krō-'ket] -n

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. a rough draft : sketch

crore ['krȯr] -n

  1. a unit of value equal to ten million rupees or 100 lakhs

cro·sier ['krō-zhər] -n

  1. a staff resembling a shepherd's crook carried by bishops and abbots as a symbol of office
  2. a plant structure with a coiled end

cross ['krȯs] -n

  1. a structure consisting of an upright with a transverse beam used esp. by the ancient Romans for execution
  2. the cross on which Jesus was crucified
  3. crucifixion
  4. an affliction that tries one's virtue, steadfastness, or patience
  5. a cruciform sign made to invoke the blessing of Christ esp. by touching the forehead, breast, and shoulders
  6. a device composed of an upright bar traversed by a horizontal one
  7. one used as a Christian symbol
  8. the Christian religion
  9. a structure (as a monument) shaped like or surmounted by a cross
  10. a figure or mark formed by two intersecting lines crossing at their midpoints
  11. such a mark used as a signature
  12. a cruciform badge, emblem, or decoration
  13. the intersection of two ways or lines : crossing
  14. annoyance, thwarting
    • a cross in love
  15. an act of crossing dissimilar individuals
  16. a crossbred individual or kind
  17. one that combines characteristics of two different types or individuals
  18. a fraudulent or dishonest contest
  19. dishonest or illegal practices used esp. in the phrase on the cross
  20. a movement from one part of a theater stage to another
  21. a punch thrown over the opponent's lead in boxing
  22. an attacking pass in soccer played across the field from one side to the other or to the middle
  23. 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
  24. to lie or be situated across
  25. intersect
  26. to make the sign of the cross upon or over
  27. to cancel by marking a cross on or drawing a line through : strike out
    • cross names off a list
  28. to place or fold crosswise one over the other
    • cross the arms
  29. to run counter to : oppose
  30. to deny the validity of : contradict
  31. to confront in a troublesome manner : obstruct
  32. to spoil completely : disrupt used with up
    • his failure to appear cross ed up the whole program
  33. to turn against : betray
    • cross ed me up on the deal
  34. to extend across or over : traverse
    • a highway cross ing the entire state
  35. reach, attain
    • only two cross ed the finish line
  36. to go from one side of to the other
    • cross a street
    • cross es racial barriers
  37. to draw a line across
  38. to mark or figure with lines : streak
  39. to cause (an animal or plant) to interbreed with one of a different kind : hybridize
  40. to meet and pass on the way
    • our letters must have cross ed each other
  41. to occur to
    • it never cross ed my mind
  42. to carry or take across something
    • cross ed the children at the intersection
  43. to move, pass, or extend across something
    • cross ed through France
    • cross ed over to the other side of the river
  44. 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
  45. to lie or be athwart each other
  46. to meet in passing esp. from opposite directions
  47. interbreed, hybridize
  48. lying across or athwart
  49. moving across
    • cross traffic
  50. running counter : opposite
  51. mutually opposed
    • cross purposes
  52. involving mutual interchange : reciprocal
  53. marked by typically transitory bad temper
  54. extending over or treating several groups, conditions, or classes
    • a cross sample from 25 colleges
  55. crossbred, hybrid
  56. across
  57. not parallel : crisscross, crosswise

cross·abil·i·ty [,krȯ-sə-'bi-lə-tē] -n

  1. the ability of different species or varieties to cross with each other

cross·able ['krȯ-sə-bəl] -adj

  1. capable of being crossed

cross action -n

  1. 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

  1. a veneer border (as on furniture) with its grain at right angles to the grain of the adjacent wood

cross·bar ['krȯs-,bär] -n

  1. a transverse bar or stripe

cross·beam [-,bēm] -n

  1. a transverse beam

cross·bear·er ['krȯs-,ber-ər] -n

  1. crucifer

cross·bill [-,bil] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Loxiaof the family Fringillidae) of finches with curved mandibles that cross each other

cross·bones [-,bōnz] -n pl

  1. two leg or arm bones placed or depicted crosswise

cross·bow [-,bō] -n

  1. 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

  1. a person (as a soldier or a hunter) whose weapon is a crossbow

cross·bred ['krȯs-'bred] -adj, n

  1. produced by crossbreeding : hybrid

cross·breed ['krȯs-,brēd, -'brēd] -vb

  1. hybridize, cross
  2. to cross (two varieties or breeds) within the same species
  3. to engage in or undergo hybridization
  4. hybrid

crosscheck [-,chek] -vt

  1. to obstruct in ice hockey or lacrosse by thrusting one's stick held in both hands across an opponent's face or body
  2. to check (as data or reports) from various angles or sources to determine validity or accuracy
  3. an act or instance of cross-checking

crossclaim [-,klām] -n

  1. a claim against a party on the same side of a legal action

crosscoun·try ['krȯs-'kən-trē, -,kən-] -adj, adv

  1. extending or moving across a country
    • a crosscountry concert tour
  2. proceeding over countryside (as across fields and through woods) and not by roads
  3. of or relating to racing or skiing over the countryside instead of over a track or run

crosscountry -n

  1. cross-country racing or skiing

cross·court ['krȯs-kȯrt] -adv or adj

  1. to or toward the opposite side of a court (as in tennis or basketball)

crosscul·tur·al ['krȯs-'kəlch-rəl, -'kəl-chə-] -adj, adv

  1. dealing with or offering comparison between two or more different cultures or cultural areas

cross·cur·rent ['krȯs-,kər-ənt, -,kə-rənt] -n

  1. a current running counter to the general forward direction
  2. a conflicting tendency usu. used in pl.
    • political crosscurrent s

cross·cut ['krȯs-,kət, -'kət] -vt

  1. to cut, go, or move across or through
  2. to cut with a crosscut saw
  3. to subject (as movie scenes) to crosscutting

crosscut -adj

  1. made or used for cutting transversely
    • a saw with crosscut teeth
  2. cut across or transversely
    • a crosscut incision

cross·cut ['krȯs-,kət] -n

  1. something that cuts across or through
  2. a mine working driven horizontally and at right angles to an adit, drift, or level
  3. cross section
  4. crosscut saw
  5. an instance of crosscutting (as in a movie)

crosscut saw -n

  1. a saw designed chiefly to cut across the grain of wood

cross·cut·ting ['krȯs-,kə-tiŋ] -n

  1. a technique esp. in filmmaking of interweaving bits of two or more separate scenes

crossdress·ing ['krȯs-,dre-siŋ] -n, vi

  1. the wearing of clothes designed for the opposite sex

crosse ['krȯs] -n

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. strabismus in which the eye turns inward toward the nose
  2. eyes affected with cross-eye

crossfer·tile ['krȯs-'fər-tᵊl, -,fər-] -adj

  1. fertile in a cross or capable of cross-fertilization

crossfer·til·i·za·tion [-,fər-tə-lə-'zā-shən] -n

  1. fertilization in which the gametes are produced by separate individuals or sometimes by individuals of different kinds
  2. cross-pollination
  3. interchange or interaction (as between different ideas, cultures, or categories) esp. of a broadening or productive nature

crossfer·til·ize [-'fər-tə-,līz] -vt

  1. to accomplish cross-fertilization of
  2. to undergo cross-fertilization

crossfile [-'fī(-ə)l] -vi

  1. to register as a candidate in the primary elections of more than one political party
  2. to register (a person) as a candidate for more than one party

cross fire -n

  1. firing (as in combat) from two or more points so that the lines of fire cross
  2. a situation wherein the forces of opposing factions meet, cross, or clash
    • caught in a political cross fire
  3. rapid or heated exchange of words

crossgrained ['krȯs-,grānd] -adj

  1. difficult to deal with
    • her husband's self-absorbed and crossgrained nature -- Lance Morrow
  2. having the grain or fibers running diagonally, transversely, or irregularly

cross·hair [-,her] -n

  1. 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

  1. to mark with two series of parallel lines that intersect

cross·head [-,hed] -n

  1. a metal block to which one end of a piston rod is secured
  2. a heading centered usu. between portions of text

crossin·dex ['krȯs-'in-,deks] -vt, n

  1. to index (an item) under a second or under more than one heading
  2. to supply (as a book) with a cross-referenced index

cross·ing ['krȯ-siŋ] -n

  1. : the act or action of crossing: as
  2. a traversing or traveling across
  3. an opposing, blocking, or thwarting esp. in an unfair or dishonest manner
  4. a place or structure (as on a street or over a river) where pedestrians or vehicles cross
  5. crosswalk
  6. the place in a cruciform church where the transept crosses the nave
  7. a place where a railroad track crosses a street

cross·ingover [,krȯ-siŋ-'ō-vər] -n

  1. an interchange of genes or segments between homologous chromosomes

crosslegged ['krȯs-,le-gəd, -,lā-; -,legd, -,lāgd] -adv or adj

  1. with legs crossed and knees spread wide apart
  2. with one leg placed over and across the other

cross·let ['krȯs-lət] -n

  1. a small cross usu. with crossed arms
  2. one used as a heraldic bearing

cross·lin·guis·tic [-liŋ-'gwis-tik] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to languages of different families and types
  2. relating to the comparison of different languages

crosslink ['krȯs-,liŋk] -n, vb

  1. 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

  1. the process of forming cross-links
  2. cross-link

cross multiply -vi, n

  1. 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

  1. of or relating to two or more nations

cross of Lor·raine [-lə-'rān, -lȯ-]

  1. a cross with two crossbars the lower one of which is longer than the upper one and intersects the upright below its center
  2. patriarchal cross

cros·sop·ter·yg·ian [,krȯ-,säp-tə-'ri-j(ē-)ən] -n, adj

  1. 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

  1. crossing
  2. an instance or product of genetic crossing-over
  3. a voter registered as a member of one political party who votes in the primary of the other party
  4. 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
  5. an artist or artistic work that has achieved a crossover
  6. an instance of breaking into another category
  7. a basketball maneuver in which a player dribbles the ball quickly from one hand to the other

crossover -adj

  1. having two pieces that cross esp. one over the other
    • a crossover vest
  2. critical
    • the crossover point

cross over -vi

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. grouch

cross·piece ['krȯs-,pēs] -n

  1. a horizontal member (as of a structure)

crosspol·li·nate ['krȯs-'pä-lə-,nāt] -vt

  1. to subject to cross-pollination

crosspol·li·na·tion [,krȯs-,pä-lə-'nā-shən] -n

  1. the transfer of pollen from one flower to the stigma of another
  2. cross-fertilization
    • crosspollination of fantasy and realism

cross product -n

  1. vector product
  2. either of the two products obtained by multiplying the two means or the two extremes of a proportion

crosspur·pose ['krȯs-'pər-pəs] -n

  1. 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

  1. a question asked in cross-examination

crossre·ac·tion [,krȯs-rē-'ak-shən] -n, vi, adj

  1. reaction of one antigen with antibodies developed against another antigen

crossre·fer [,krȯs-ri-'fər] -vt

  1. to refer (a reader) by a notation or direction from one place to another (as in a book, list, or catalog)
  2. to make a cross-reference

crossref·er·ence ['krȯs-'re-fərn(t)s, -'re-f(ə-)rən(t)s] -n

  1. a notation or direction at one place (as in a book or filing system) to pertinent information at another place

crossreference -vt

  1. to supply with cross-references
    • crossreference a book
  2. to research, verify, or organize by means of cross-references
    • crossreference information

crossre·sis·tance [,krȯs-ri-'zis-tən(t)s] -n

  1. 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

  1. a road that crosses a main road or runs cross-country between main roads
  2. the place of intersection of two or more roads
  3. a small community located at such a crossroads
  4. a central meeting place
  5. a crucial point esp. where a decision must be made

cross·ruff ['krȯs-,rəf, -'rəf] -n, vb

  1. 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

  1. a cutting or piece of something cut off at right angles to an axis
  2. a representation of such a cutting
  3. section
  4. a measure of the probability of an encounter between particles such as will result in a specified effect (as scattering or capture)
  5. a composite representation typifying the constituents of a thing in their relations

crossstaff [-,staf] -n

  1. an instrument formerly used at sea for taking the altitude of a celestial body

crossstitch ['krȯ(s)-,stich] -n, vb

  1. a needlework stitch that forms an X
  2. work having cross-stitch

cross talk -n

  1. 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)
  2. conversation that does not relate to the main topic being discussed
  3. conversation or repartee engaged in for an audience

crosstol·er·ance ['krȯs-'täl-rən(t)s, -'tä-lə-] -n

  1. tolerance or resistance to a drug that develops through continued use of another drug with similar pharmacological action

cross·town ['krȯs-'tau̇n] -adj

  1. situated at opposite points of a town
    • crosstown schools
  2. extending or running across a town
    • a crosstown street
    • a crosstown bus

crosstrade ['krȯs-,trād] -n

  1. cross

crosstrain [-,trān] -vi, n

  1. to engage in various sports or exercises esp. for well-rounded health and muscular development
  2. to train (an employee) to do more than one specific job

crosstrain·er [-,trā-nər] -n

  1. a sport shoe designed for cross-training

cross·trees [-(,)trēz] -n pl

  1. 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

  1. a vault formed by the intersection of two or more simple vaults called also cross vaulting

cross·walk ['krȯs-,wȯk] -n

  1. a specially paved or marked path for pedestrians crossing a street or road

cross·way [-,wā] -n

  1. crossroad often used in pl.

cross·ways [-,wāz] -adv

  1. crosswise, diagonally

cross·wind [-,wind] -n

  1. a wind blowing in a direction not parallel to a course (as of an airplane)

cross·wise [-,wīz] -adv

  1. in the form of a cross
  2. so as to cross something : across
    • carrot sticks cut crosswise

crosswise -adj

  1. transverse, crossing
  2. involved in conflict or disagreement
    • got crosswise with his teacher

cross·word ['krȯs-,wərd] -n

  1. 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

  1. small slices of usu. toasted bread topped with a spread or other food

crotch ['kräch] -n, adj

  1. a pole with a forked end used esp. as a prop
  2. an angle formed by the parting of two legs, branches, or members

crotch·et ['krä-chət] -n

  1. a small hook or hooked instrument
  2. brooch
  3. a highly individual and usu. eccentric opinion or preference
  4. a peculiar trick or device
  5. quarter note

crotch·ety ['krä-chə-tē] -adj, n

  1. given to crotchets : subject to whims, crankiness, or ill temper
    • a crotchety old man
  2. full of or arising from crotchets
    • a crotchety style

cro·ton ['krō-tᵊn] -n

  1. : any of a genus ( Croton) of herbs, shrubs, and trees of the spurge family: as
  2. one ( C. eluteria) of the Bahamas yielding cascarilla bark
  3. an Asian plant ( C. tiglium) yielding croton oil
  4. any of a genus ( Codiaeum) of shrubs and trees related to the crotons

Cro·ton bug ['krō-tᵊn-] -n

  1. german cockroach

croton oil -n

  1. 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

  1. to lower the body stance esp. by bending the legs
    • a sprinter crouch ed ready to go
  2. to lie close to the ground with the legs bent
    • a pair of cats, crouch ing on the brink of a fight -- Aldous Huxley
  3. to bend or bow servilely : cringe
  4. to stand at a low height
    • cottages crouch ed along the river
  5. to bow esp. in humility or fear : bend

croup ['krüp] -n

  1. the rump of a quadruped
  2. 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

  1. an employee of a gambling casino who collects and pays bets and assists at the gaming tables

crouse ['krüs] -adj

  1. brisk, lively

crous·tade [krü-'städ] -n

  1. a crisp shell (as of toast or puff pastry) in which to serve food

crou·ton ['krü-,tän, krü-'] -n

  1. a small cube of toasted or crisply fried bread

crow ['krō] -n

  1. any of various large usu. entirely glossy black passerine birds (family Corvidae and esp. genus Corvus)
  2. a member of an American Indian people of the region between the Platte and Yellowstone rivers
  3. the language of the Crow people
  4. corvus
  5. humble pie
    • the braggart was forced to eat crow
  6. to make the loud shrill sound characteristic of a cock
  7. to utter a sound expressive of pleasure
  8. to exult gloatingly esp. over the distress of another
  9. to brag exultantly or blatantly
  10. to say with self-satisfaction
  11. the cry of the cock
  12. a triumphant cry

crow·bar ['krō-,bär] -n, vt

  1. 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

  1. an evergreen subshrub ( Empetrum nigrumof the family Empetraceae) of subtemperate regions with an inedible tasteless black berry
  2. the fruit of a crowberry

crowd ['krau̇d] -vb

  1. to press on : hurry
  2. to press close
    • the players crowd ed around the coach
  3. to collect in numbers
  4. to fill by pressing or thronging together
    • a room crowd ed with children
  5. to press, force, or thrust into a small space
  6. push, force often used with off or out
    • crowd a person off the sidewalk
  7. to urge on
  8. to put on (sail) in excess of the usual for greater speed
  9. to put pressure on
    • don't crowd me, I'll pay
  10. throng, jostle
  11. to press or stand close to
    • the batter was crowd ing the plate
  12. a large number of persons esp. when collected together : throng
  13. the great body of the people : populace
  14. most of one's peers
    • follow the crowd
  15. a large number of things close together
    • I saw a crowd...of golden daffodils -- William Wordsworth
  16. a group of people having something (as a habit, interest, or occupation) in common
    • in with the wrong crowd
    • the Hollywood crowd
  17. an ancient Celtic stringed instrument that is plucked or bowed called also crwth
  18. violin

crowd·ed·ness ['krau̇-dəd-nəs] -n

  1. the quality or state of being crowded

crow·die ['krau̇-dē] -n

  1. a Scottish cottage cheese that is partially cooked

crowdpleas·er ['krau̇d-,plē-zər] -n, adj

  1. 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

  1. any of numerous plants having leaves with cleft lobes
  2. buttercup
  3. crow's-foot usu. used in pl.

crow·keep·er ['krō-,kē-pər] -n

  1. a person employed to scare off crows

crown ['krau̇n] -n, adj

  1. a reward of victory or mark of honor
  2. the title representing the championship in a sport
  3. a royal or imperial headdress or cap of sovereignty : diadem
  4. : the highest part: as
  5. the topmost part of the skull or head
  6. the summit of a mountain
  7. the head of foliage of a tree or shrub
  8. the part of a hat or other headgear covering the crown of the head
  9. the part of a tooth external to the gum or an artificial substitute for this
  10. a wreath, band, or circular ornament for the head
  11. something resembling a wreath or crown
  12. the knurled cap on top of a watch stem
  13. imperial or regal power : sovereignty
  14. the government under a constitutional monarchy
  15. monarch
  16. something that imparts splendor, honor, or finish : culmination
  17. any of several old gold coins with a crown as part of the device
  18. an old usu. silver British coin worth five shillings
  19. koruna
  20. krona
  21. krone
  22. the region of a seed plant at which stem and root merge
  23. the thick arching end of the shank of an anchor where the arms join it
  24. to place a crown or wreath on the head of
  25. to invest with regal dignity and power
  26. to recognize officially as
    • they crown ed her athlete of the year
  27. to award a championship to
    • crown a new champion
  28. to bestow something on as a mark of honor or recompense : adorn
  29. surmount, top
  30. to top (a checker) with a checker to make a king
  31. to bring to a successful conclusion : climax
    • the role that crown ed her career
  32. : to provide with something like a crown: as
  33. to fill so that the surface forms a crown
  34. to put an artificial crown on (a tooth)
  35. to hit on the head
  36. to burn rapidly through the tops of trees

crown colony -n

  1. a British colony over which the Crown retains some control

crown court -n

  1. 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

  1. coroner

crown·et ['krau̇-nət] -n

  1. coronet

crown gall -n

  1. 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

  1. a glass blown and whirled into the form of a disk with a center lump left by the worker's rod
  2. alkali-lime silicate optical glass having relatively low refractive index and low dispersion value

crown jewel -n

  1. the jewels (as crown and scepter) belonging to a sovereign's regalia
  2. the most attractive or valuable one of a collection or group

crown land -n

  1. land belonging to the crown and yielding revenues that the reigning sovereign is entitled to
  2. public land in some British dominions or colonies

crown molding -n

  1. molding that crowns a surface or structure
  2. molding that runs between the top of an internal wall and a ceiling

crown of thorns

  1. 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

  1. a male heir apparent to a crown or throne
  2. one prepared or favored to fill a prospective position

crown princess -n

  1. the wife of a crown prince
  2. a female heir apparent or heir presumptive to a crown or throne

crown roast -n

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. a wrinkle extending from the outer corner of the eye usu. used in pl.
  2. crowfoot

crow's nest -n

  1. a partly enclosed platform high on a ship's mast for use as a lookout
  2. a similar lookout (as for traffic control)

crow·step ['krō-,step] -n, adj

  1. any of a series of steps at the top of a gable wall

crozier ['krō-zhər] -n

(variant of crosier)

  1. a staff resembling a shepherd's crook carried by bishops and abbots as a symbol of office
  2. a plant structure with a coiled end

CRT [,sē-(,)är-'tē] -n

  1. cathode-ray tube
  2. a display device incorporating a cathode-ray tube
  3. carrier route

cruces ['krəks, 'kru̇ks] -n

(variant of crux)

  1. a puzzling or difficult problem : an unsolved question
  2. an essential point requiring resolution or resolving an outcome
    • the crux of the problem
  3. a main or central feature (as of an argument)

cru·cial ['krü-shəl] -adj

  1. cruciform
  2. important or essential as resolving a crisis : decisive
    • a crucial step
  3. marked by final determination of a doubtful issue
    • the crucial game of a series
  4. important, significant
    • what use we make of them will be the crucial question -- Stanley Kubrick

cru·cial·ly ['krü-sh(ə-)lē] -adv

  1. in a crucial manner
  2. very importantly

cru·cian carp ['krü-shən-] -n

  1. a European cyprinid fish ( Carassius carassius) called also crucian

cru·ci·ate ['krü-shē-,āt] -adj

  1. cross-shaped : cruciform

cruciate ligament -n

  1. either of two ligaments in the knee joint which cross each other from femur to tibia
  2. anterior cruciate ligament

cru·ci·ble ['krü-sə-bəl] -n

  1. a vessel of a very refractory material (as porcelain) used for melting and calcining a substance that requires a high degree of heat
  2. a severe test
  3. 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

  1. 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

  1. one who carries a cross esp. at the head of an ecclesiastical procession
  2. any of a family (Cruciferae syn. Brassicaceae) of plants including the cabbage, turnip, and mustard

cru·ci·fix ['krü-sə-,fiks] -n

  1. a representation of Christ on the cross

cru·ci·fix·ion [,krü-sə-'fik-shən] -n

  1. the crucifying of Christ
  2. the act of crucifying
  3. extreme and painful punishment, affliction, or suffering

cru·ci·form ['krü-sə-,fȯrm] -adj, n

  1. forming or arranged in a cross

cru·ci·fy ['krü-sə-,fī] -vt, n

  1. to put to death by nailing or binding the wrists or hands and feet to a cross
  2. to destroy the power of : mortify
    • crucify the flesh
  3. to treat cruelly : torment
  4. pillory

cruck ['krək] -n

  1. one of a pair of curved timbers forming a principal support of a roof in primitive English house construction

crud ['krəd] -n, adj

  1. curd
  2. a deposit or incrustation of filth, grease, or refuse
  3. something disagreeable or disgusting : rubbish
  4. a despicable or contemptible person
  5. a usu. ill-defined or imperfectly identified bodily disorder
  6. curd

crude ['krüd] -adj, adv, n

  1. existing in a natural state and unaltered by cooking or processing
    • crude oil
  2. unripe, immature
  3. marked by the primitive, gross, or elemental or by uncultivated simplicity or vulgarity
    • a crude stereotype
  4. rough or inexpert in plan or execution
    • a crude shelter
  5. lacking a covering, glossing, or concealing element : obvious
    • crude facts
  6. tabulated without being broken down into classes
    • the crude death rate
  7. a substance in its natural unprocessed state
  8. unrefined petroleum

cru·di·tes [krᵫ-dē-tā, ,krü-di-'tā] -n pl

  1. 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

  1. the quality or state of being crude
  2. something that is crude

cru·el ['krü(-ə)l] -adj, adv, n

  1. disposed to inflict pain or suffering : devoid of humane feelings
    • a cruel tyrant
  2. causing or conducive to injury, grief, or pain
    • a cruel joke
  3. unrelieved by leniency
    • cruel punishment

cru·el·ty ['krü(-ə)l-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being cruel
  2. a cruel action
  3. inhuman treatment
  4. 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

  1. developed or produced without inhumane testing on animals
    • crueltyfree cosmetics

cru·et ['krü-ət] -n

  1. a vessel to hold wine or water for the Eucharist
  2. a usu. glass bottle used to hold a condiment (as oil or vinegar) for use at the table

cruise ['krüz] -vb

  1. to sail about touching at a series of ports
  2. to move or proceed speedily, smoothly, or effortlessly
    • I'll cruise over to her house to see if she's home
  3. to travel without destination or purpose
  4. to go about the streets at random but on the lookout for possible developments
    • the cabdriver cruised for an hour before being hailed
  5. to search (as in public places) for a sexual partner
  6. to fly at the most efficient operating speed
  7. to travel at a speed suitable for being maintained for a long distance
  8. to cruise over or about
  9. to inspect (as land) with reference to possible lumber yield
  10. to search in (a public place) for a sexual partner
  11. to approach and suggest sexual relations to
  12. to explore or search the offerings of
  13. surf
    • cruise the Internet
  14. an act or an instance of cruising
  15. a tour by ship

cruise control -n

  1. an electronic device in a vehicle that controls the throttle so as to maintain a constant speed
  2. a relaxed and seemingly automatic pace that is easily maintained

cruise missile -n

  1. a guided missile that has a terrain-following radar system and that flies at moderate speed and low altitude

cruis·er ['krü-zər] -n

  1. : a vehicle that cruises: as
  2. squad car
  3. a powerboat with facilities (as a cabin and plumbing) necessary for living aboard called also cabin cruiser
  4. a large fast moderately armored and gunned warship
  5. a person who cruises

cruis·er·weight [-,wāt] -n

  1. a boxer in a weight division having a maximum limit of 190 pounds

crul·ler ['krə-lər] -n

  1. a small sweet cake in the form of a twisted strip fried in deep fat
  2. an unraised doughnut

crumb ['krəm] -n

  1. a small fragment esp. of something baked (as bread)
  2. a porous aggregate of soil particles
  3. bit
    • a crumb of good news
  4. the soft part of bread
  5. a worthless person
  6. to break into crumbs
  7. to cover or thicken with crumbs
  8. to remove crumbs from
    • crumb a table

crum·ble ['krəm-bəl] -vb

  1. to break into small pieces
  2. to fall into small pieces : disintegrate
  3. to break down completely : collapse
    • marriages crumble

crumble -n

  1. something crumbled : fine debris
  2. crisp

crum·blings ['krəm-b(ə-)liŋz] -n pl

  1. crumbled particles

crum·bly [-b(ə-)lē] -adj, n

  1. easily crumbled : friable
    • crumbly soil

crumb structure -n

  1. a soil condition suitable for farming in which the soil particles are aggregated into crumbs

crumhorn ['krəm-,hȯrn] -n

(variant of krummhorn)

  1. 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

  1. cow
  2. one with crooked horns

crum·my ['krə-mē] -adj, n

  1. crumbly
  2. very poor or inferior : lousy
    • crummy weather
    • has a crummy job

crump ['krəmp] -vi

  1. crunch
  2. to explode heavily
  3. a crunching sound
  4. shell, bomb
  5. brittle

crum·pet ['krəm-pət] -n

  1. a small round unsweetened bread cooked on a griddle and usu. split and toasted before serving

crum·ple ['krəm-pəl] -vb

  1. to press, bend, or crush out of shape : rumple
  2. to cause to collapse
  3. to become crumpled
  4. collapse

crumple ['krəm-p(ə-)lē] -n, adj

  1. a wrinkle or crease made by crumpling

crumple zone -n

  1. a section of an automobile body designed to absorb the force of an impact in order to protect the passengers

crunch ['krənch] -vb, adj

  1. to chew or press with a crushing noise
  2. to make one's way with a crushing noise
  3. to chew, press, or grind with a crunching sound
  4. process
  5. to perform mathematical computations on
    • crunch numbers
  6. an act of crunching
  7. a sound made by crunching
  8. : a tight or critical situation: as
  9. a critical point in the buildup of pressure between opposing elements : showdown
  10. a severe economic squeeze (as on credit)
  11. shortage
    • an energy crunch
  12. 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

  1. one that crunches
  2. a finishing blow

crunch time -n

  1. a critical moment or period (as near the end of a game) when decisive action is needed

crunchy ['krən-chē] -adj, adv, n

  1. making a crunching sound when chewed or pressed
    • crunchy lettuce

crunk ['krəŋk] -n

  1. a style of Southern rap music featuring repetitive chants and rapid dance rhythms

crup·per ['krə-pər, 'kru̇-] -n

  1. a leather loop passing under a horse's tail and buckled to the saddle
  2. croup
  3. buttocks

cru·ral ['kru̇r-əl] -adj

  1. of or relating to the thigh or leg
  2. femoral
    • crural artery

crus ['krüs, 'krəs] -n

  1. any of various anatomical parts that resemble a leg or a pair of legs

cru·sade [krü-'sād] -n

  1. any of the military expeditions undertaken by Christian powers in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries to win the Holy Land from the Muslims
  2. a remedial enterprise undertaken with zeal and enthusiasm

crusade -vi, n

  1. to engage in a crusade

cru·sa·do [krü-'sā-(,)dō] -n

  1. an old gold or silver coin of Portugal having a cross on the reverse

cruse ['krüz, 'krüs] -n

  1. a small vessel (as a jar or pot) for holding a liquid (as water or oil)

crush ['krəsh] -vb, adj, n, adv

  1. to squeeze or force by pressure so as to alter or destroy structure
    • crush grapes
  2. to squeeze together into a mass
  3. hug, embrace
  4. to reduce to particles by pounding or grinding
    • crush rock
  5. to suppress or overwhelm as if by pressure or weight
  6. to oppress or burden grievously
    • crush ed by debt
  7. to subdue completely
  8. crowd, push
    • were crush ed into the elevator
  9. drink
  10. crash
  11. to become crushed
  12. to advance with or as if with crushing
  13. an act of crushing
  14. the quantity of material crushed
  15. a crowding together (as of people)
  16. crowd, mob
  17. a crowd of people pressing against one another
  18. an intense and usu. passing infatuation
    • have a crush on someone
  19. the object of infatuation

crust ['krəst] -n, vb, adj

  1. the hardened exterior or surface part of bread
  2. a piece of this or of bread grown dry or hard
  3. the pastry cover of a pie
  4. : a hard or brittle external coat or covering: as
  5. a hard surface layer (as of soil or snow)
  6. the outer part of a planet, moon, or asteroid composed essentially of crystalline rocks
  7. a deposit built up on the interior surface of a wine bottle during long aging
  8. an encrusting deposit of dried secretions or exudate
  9. scab
  10. gall, nerve

crus·ta·cea [,krəs-'tā-sh(ē-)ə] -n pl

  1. arthropods that are crustaceans

crus·ta·cean [,krəs-'tā-shən] -n, adj

  1. 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

  1. of, relating to, having, or forming a crust or shell

crus·tose ['krəs-,tōs] -adj

  1. having a thin thallus adhering closely to a substrate (as of rock, bark, or soil)
    • crustose lichens

crusty ['krəs-tē] -adj, adv, n

  1. having or being a crust
  2. giving an effect of surly incivility in address or disposition

crutch ['krəch] -n

  1. a support typically fitting under the armpit for use by the disabled in walking
  2. prop, stay
  3. a forked leg rest constituting the pommel of a sidesaddle
  4. the crotch of a human being or an animal
  5. a forked support
  6. to support on crutches : prop up

crux ['krəks, 'kru̇ks] -n

  1. a puzzling or difficult problem : an unsolved question
  2. an essential point requiring resolution or resolving an outcome
    • the crux of the problem
  3. a main or central feature (as of an argument)

cru·za·do [krü-'zä-(,)dō, -(,)dü] -n

  1. the basic monetary unit of Brazil from 1986 to 1990

Cru·zan [krü-'zan] -n, adj

  1. a native or inhabitant of St. Croix

cru·zei·ro [krü-'zer-(,)ō, -(,)ü] -n

  1. the basic monetary unit of Brazil from 1942 to 1985 and from 1991 to 1993

crwth ['krüth] -n

  1. crowd

cry ['krī] -vb

  1. to utter loudly : shout
  2. beg, beseech
  3. to proclaim publicly : advertise
    • cry their wares
  4. to call loudly : shout
  5. to shed tears often noisily : weep, sob
  6. to utter a characteristic sound or call
  7. to require or suggest strongly a remedy or disposition
    • a hundred things which cry out for planning -- Roger Burlingame
  8. : an instance of crying: as
  9. an inarticulate utterance of distress, rage, or pain
  10. outcry, clamor
  11. proclamation
  12. banns
  13. entreaty, appeal
    • a cry for help
  14. a loud shout
  15. watchword, slogan
  16. common report
  17. a general opinion
  18. the public voice raised in protest or approval
  19. a fit of weeping
  20. the characteristic sound or call of an animal
  21. a pack of hounds
  22. pursuit used in the phrase in full cry
    • hounds in full cry
  23. a peak of activity or excitement used in the phrase in full cry
    • a campaign in full cry

cry- -comb form

  1. cold : freezing
    • cry onics
    • cryo gen

cry·ba·by ['krī-,bā-bē] -n

  1. one who cries or complains easily or often

cry down -vt

  1. disparage, depreciate

cry·ing ['krī-iŋ] -adj

  1. calling for notice
    • a crying need
  2. notorious, heinous
    • a crying shame

cryo·bi·ol·o·gy [,krī-ō-bī-'ä-lə-jē] -n, adj

  1. the study of the effects of extremely low temperature on living organisms and cells

cry off -vi

  1. to beg off
  2. to call off (as a bargain)

cryo·gen ['krī-ə-jən] -n

  1. a substance for obtaining low temperatures : refrigerant called also cryogenic

cryo·gen·ic [,krī-ə-'je-nik] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to the production of very low temperatures
  2. being or relating to very low temperatures
  3. requiring or involving the use of a cryogenic temperature
  4. requiring cryogenic storage
  5. suitable for storage of a cryogenic substance

cryo·gen·ics [-niks] -n pl but sing in constr

  1. a branch of physics that deals with the production and effects of very low temperatures

cryo·lite ['krī-ə-,līt] -n

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. thriving at low temperatures

cryo·pres·er·va·tion [,krī-ō-,pre-zər-'vā-shən] -n, vt

  1. preservation (as of cells) by subjection to extremely low temperatures

cryo·probe ['krī-ə-,prōb] -n

  1. a blunt chilled instrument used to freeze tissues in cryosurgery

cryo·pro·tec·tive [,krī-ō-prə-'tek-tiv] -adj, n or adj

  1. serving to protect against the deleterious effects of freezing
    • an intracellular cryoprotective agent

cryo·scope ['krī-ə-,skōp] -n

  1. an instrument for determining freezing points

cry·os·co·py [krī-'äs-kə-pē] -n, adj

  1. 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

  1. an apparatus for maintaining a constant low temperature esp. below 0C

cryo·sur·gery [,krī-ō-'sərj-rē, -'sər-jə-] -n, adj

  1. 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

  1. the therapeutic use of cold
  2. cryosurgery

crypt ['kript] -n

  1. a chamber (as a vault) wholly or partly underground
  2. a vault under the main floor of a church
  3. a chamber in a mausoleum
  4. an anatomical pit or depression
  5. a simple tubular gland

crypt- -comb form

  1. hidden : covered
    • crypto genic
  2. cryptographic
    • crypt analysis

crypt·anal·y·sis [,krip-tə-'na-lə-səs] -n, adj

  1. the solving of cryptograms or cryptographic systems
  2. the theory of solving cryptograms or cryptographic systems : the art of devising methods for cryptanalysis

crypt·an·a·lyst [krip-'ta-nə-list] -n

  1. a specialist in cryptanalysis

cryp·ta·rithm ['krip-tə-,ri-thəm] -n

  1. 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

  1. secret, occult
  2. having or seeming to have a hidden or ambiguous meaning : mysterious
    • cryptic messages
  3. marked by an often perplexing brevity
    • cryptic marginal notes
  4. serving to conceal
    • cryptic coloration in animals
  5. exhibiting cryptic coloration
    • cryptic animals
  6. not recognized
    • a cryptic infection
  7. employing cipher or code

cryp·to ['krip-(,)tō] -n

  1. a person who adheres or belongs secretly to a party, sect, or other group
  2. cryptography

crypto -adj

  1. not openly avowed or declared often used in combination
    • crypto -fascist
  2. cryptographic

cryp·to·coc·co·sis [,krip-tə-(,)kä-'kō-səs] -n

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. having a crystalline structure so fine that no distinct particles are recognizable under a microscope
    • cryptocrystalline quartz

cryp·to·gam ['krip-tə-,gam] -n, adj

  1. 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

  1. of obscure or unknown origin
    • a cryptogenic disease

cryp·to·gram ['krip-tə-,gram] -n

  1. a communication in cipher or code
  2. a figure or representation having a hidden significance

cryp·to·graph ['krip-tə-,graf] -n

  1. cryptogram

cryp·tog·ra·pher [krip-'tä-grə-fər] -n

  1. : a specialist in cryptography: as
  2. a clerk who enciphers and deciphers messages
  3. one who devises cryptographic methods or systems
  4. cryptanalyst

cryp·to·graph·ic [,krip-tə-'gra-fik] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or using cryptography

cryp·tog·ra·phy [krip-'tä-grə-fē] -n

  1. secret writing
  2. the enciphering and deciphering of messages in secret code or cipher
  3. the computerized encoding and decoding of information
  4. cryptanalysis

cryp·tol·o·gy [krip-'tä-lə-jē] -n, adj

  1. the scientific study of cryptography and cryptanalysis

cryp·to·me·ria [,krip-tə-'mir-ē-ə] -n

  1. 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

  1. a secret name

crypt·or·chid [krip-'tȯr-kəd] -n, adj

  1. one affected with cryptorchidism

crypt·or·chi·dism [-kə-,di-zəm] -n

  1. 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

  1. infection with or disease caused by cryptosporidia

cryp·to·spo·rid·i·um [,krip-tō-spȯr-'i-dē-əm] -n

  1. 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

  1. a method for encoding and decoding messages

cryp·to·zo·ol·o·gy [,krip-tə-zō-'ä-lə-jē, -zə-'wä-] -n, adj

  1. 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

  1. crystalline; crystallized

crys·tal ['kris-tᵊl] -n

  1. quartz that is transparent or nearly so and that is either colorless or only slightly tinged
  2. something resembling crystal in transparency and colorlessness
  3. 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
  4. a clear colorless glass of superior quality
  5. objects or ware of such glass
  6. the glass or transparent plastic cover over a watch or clock dial
  7. a crystalline material used in electronics as a frequency-determining element or for rectification
  8. ice
  9. methamphetamine in any form when used illicitly

crystal -adj

  1. consisting of or resembling crystal : clear, lucid
  2. relating to or using a crystal
    • a crystal radio receiver

crystal ball -n

  1. a sphere esp. of quartz crystal traditionally used by fortune-tellers
  2. a means or method of predicting future events

crystal clear -adj

  1. perfectly or transparently clear
    • crystal clear water
    • her directions were crystal clear

crystal gazing -n

  1. 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
  2. the attempt to predict future events or make difficult judgments esp. without adequate data

crystall- -comb form

  1. crystal
    • crystallo graphy

crys·tal·line ['kris-tə-lən also -,līn, -,lēn] -adj, n

  1. : resembling crystal: as
  2. strikingly clear or sparkling
    • crystalline air
    • a crystalline lake
  3. clear-cut
  4. made of crystal : composed of crystals
  5. constituting or relating to a crystal

crystalline lens -n

  1. the lens of the eye in vertebrates

crys·tal·lise ['kris-tə-,līz] -vb, adj, n

(variant of crystallize)

  1. to cause to form crystals or assume crystalline form
  2. to cause to take a definite form
    • tried to crystallize his thoughts
  3. to coat with crystals esp. of sugar
    • crystallize grapes
  4. to become crystallized

crys·tal·lite ['kris-tə-,līt] -n

  1. a minute mineral form (as in glassy volcanic rocks) that marks the beginning of crystallization
  2. a single grain in a polycrystalline substance
  3. micelle

crys·tal·lize ['kris-tə-,līz] -vb, adj, n

  1. to cause to form crystals or assume crystalline form
  2. to cause to take a definite form
    • tried to crystallize his thoughts
  3. to coat with crystals esp. of sugar
    • crystallize grapes
  4. to become crystallized

crys·tal·lo·graph·ic [,kris-tə-lə-'gra-fik] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to crystals or crystallography

crys·tal·log·ra·phy [,kris-tə-'lä-grə-fē] -n

  1. a science that deals with the forms and structures of crystals

crys·tal·loid ['kris-tə-,lȯid] -n, adj

  1. a substance that forms a true solution and is capable of being crystallized

crystal meth -n

  1. crystal

crystal pleat -n, adj

  1. any of a series of narrow sharply pressed pleats all turned in one direction

crystal violet -n

  1. a triphenylmethane dye found in gentian violet

cry up -vt

  1. to praise publicly in order to enhance in value or repute
    • cried up his skills as a writer