crisscross

/ˈkrɪskrɑs/

/ˈkrɪskrɒs/

Other forms: crisscrossed; crisscrossing; crisscrosses

A crisscross is a pattern of lines that cross or intersect. Your favorite shirt might be printed with pink and purple crisscrosses.

You might doodle a crisscross pattern during class or stitch crisscrosses on a quilt. You can also use the word as a verb, meaning to cross in a pattern: "The sidewalks crisscross the city," or "I watched the dogs crisscross the beach." The word dates from the 1800s, from the Middle English crist-cross, or "Christ's cross," which was a mark traditionally made before the alphabet in a schoolbook or primer.

Definitions of crisscross

1. noun

   a marking that consists of lines that cross each other
   synonyms: cross, mark

   type of:

   marking

   a pattern of marks
2. adjective

   marked with crossing lines
   synonyms: crisscrossed

   reticular, reticulate

   resembling or forming a network
3. adverb

   crossing one another in opposite directions
4. verb

   mark with a pattern of crossing lines
   “crisscross the sheet of paper”

   type of:

   mark

   make or leave a mark on
5. verb

   mark with or consist of a pattern of crossed lines
   “wrinkles crisscrossed her face”

   type of:

   line

   mark with lines
6. verb

   cross in a pattern, often random
   type of:

   cover, cross, cut across, cut through, get across, get over, pass over, track, traverse

   travel across or pass over