crossfire en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈkɹɒsfaɪə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- (US) audio
- /ˈkɹɔːsfaɪɹ/ (US)
Etymology
Etymology tree English cross- Proto-Indo-European *péh₂wr̥ Proto-Germanic *fōr Proto-West Germanic *fuir Old English fȳr Middle English fyr English fire English crossfire From cross- + fire.
Meanings
- (countable, uncountable) An arrangement of two or more weapons so each can fire diagonally at something in front of a line between them.
-
(countable, uncountable) The danger to a third party passing between two belligerents firing at one another.
The two factions were either side of the road. A civilian lorry was caught in the crossfire and became collateral damage
-
(countable, uncountable) The danger to a third party passing between a gunman and his target.
A woman who was caught in the crossfire of a drive-by shooting in north London on Tuesday evening was not the intended target, police have said.
2024 May 15, Geneva Abdul, “Woman hit in London drive-by shooting was not intended target, police say”, in The Guardian:
- (broadly, countable, uncountable) A heated confrontation between opposing factions.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| crossfires | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Translations (28)
as গুলীয়াগুলী (lines of fire) · ja 十字砲火 (lines of fire) · fi sanaharkka (heated confrontation) · pl ogień krzyżowy (heated confrontation) · uk перехре́сний вого́нь (lines of fire) · tr çapraz ateş (heated confrontation) · cs křížová palba (lines of fire) · tr çapraz ateş (lines of fire) · es fuego cruzado (lines of fire) · ru перекрёстный ого́нь (lines of fire) · da krydsild (lines of fire) · sv korseld (lines of fire) · he אֵשׁ צוֹלֶבֶת (lines of fire) · hu kereszttűz (lines of fire) · fi ristituli (lines of fire) · de Kreuzfeuer (lines of fire) · ca foc creuat (lines of fire) · ru перекрёстный ого́нь (heated confrontation) · pt fogo cruzado (heated confrontation) · bg кръ́стосан о́гън (lines of fire) · cmn 交火 (lines of fire) · fi riitely (heated confrontation) · pl ogień krzyżowy (lines of fire) · fi riita (heated confrontation) · it fuoco incrociato (lines of fire) · pt fogo cruzado (lines of fire) · fr feux croisés (lines of fire) · fi kiistely (heated confrontation)