crossword en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- kros'-werd
- (US) audio
- /ˈkɹɒswɜː(ɹ)d/
Etymology
From cross + word. Various word puzzles referred to as "crosswords" date back to the 1860s. The modern crossword puzzle was invented in 1913 by Arthur Wynne, who coined the name word-cross – crossword first appeared a few weeks later as a typographical error or deliberate transposition.
Meanings
- (qualifier:puzzles) A word puzzle in which interlocking words are entered usually horizontally and vertically into a grid based on clues given for each word.
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(broadly, informal) The grid of such a puzzle.
All you have to do is fill in the crossword on this page and write your name and address on the coupon in Block Capitals (those written in longhand will not qualify).
1967, Pigeon Racing News and Gazette - Volumes 23-24, page 27:They should be able to fill out the crossword using their knowledge from this chapter.
1979, Judith A. Gillespie, An Energy Curriculum for the Elementary Grades - Page 2-45, Indiana Dept. of Commerce Energy Group, page 2-45:I sat on the bed and began to fill in the crossword.
1962, Juan Garcia Hortelano, Summer Storm, page 175:Flair, the butler, drank.[…]On weekdays when we were alone, he would open The Times and fill in the crossword, each clue no sooner read than solved. At weekends he merely read the crossword, then ironed the paper before giving it to Herbie.
2021, Sian Phillips, Private Faces and Public Places: The Autobiography:HOW TO ENTER::Fill in the crossword and send it to CROSSWORD No.54, DRUM, 176 Main Street, Johannesburg
1957, Drum: A magazine of Africa for Africa, page 72:“You said you wanted me to fill out the crossword for you!”
2021, Sarah Everett, Some Other Now, page 218:
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(obsolete) The words in an acrostic puzzle from which the letters are to be taken.
CROSSWORDS: I. Not plain. 2. Wandering tribes. 3. To disparage.[…]
1897, Mary Mapes Dodge, St. Nicholas, page 792:DOUBLE ACROSTIC. My primals and finals are the same as the first crossword. Crosswords--(1) A castle in Spain. (2) The quantity contained in a ladle. (3) A convulsive sound which comes from the throat.[…]
1895, The Woman at Home, page 399:
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(obsolete) A crossword enigma poem.
A CROSSWORD. My first is in army but not in fort. My second is in prisoner but not in court.[…]
1874, Alfred Emanuel Smith, Francis Walton, Outlook, page 237:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| crosswords | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
crosswordy · crosswordese · crosswording · two-speed crossword · cryptic crossword · crossworder · crossword enigma · crosswordlike
Descendants
mots croisés · 크로스워드 · кроссворд · クロスワード · σταυρόλεξο
Relateds
acrostic · puzzle · cruciverbalist · cryptic crossword · game · cruciverbalism
Synonyms
Translations (106)
bn শব্দছক (word puzzle) · hi शब्द-पहेली (word puzzle) · it parole crociate (word puzzle) · sh ukrštene reči (word puzzle) · uz krossvord (word puzzle) · ru кроссво́рд (word puzzle) · ceb pulongbay (word puzzle) · th อักษรปริศนา (word puzzle) · mt tisliba (word puzzle) · mk крстословка (word puzzle) · tr çengel bulmaca (word puzzle) · km ល្បែងពាក្យខ្វែង (word puzzle) · sv korsord (word puzzle) · sh укрштене речи (word puzzle) · lt kryžiažodis (word puzzle) · mr शब्दकोडे (word puzzle) · kk кроссворд (word puzzle) · et ristsõnamõistatus (word puzzle) · te గళ్ళ నుడికట్టు (word puzzle) · kk сөзжұмбақ (word puzzle) · ms silang kata (word puzzle) · id teka-teki silang (word puzzle) · km ពាក្យខ្វែង (word puzzle) · uk кросво́рд (word puzzle) · fi sanaristikko (word puzzle) · lb Kräizwuerträtsel (word puzzle) · crh krossvord (word puzzle) · fr mots croisés (word puzzle) · fr grille de mots croisés (a grid) · el σταυρόλεξο (word puzzle) · fi ristisana (word puzzle) · vi trò chơi ô chữ (word puzzle) · bg кръстосло́вица (word puzzle) · hi वर्ग पहेली (word puzzle) · az krossvord (word puzzle) · mi pangakupu (word puzzle) · es palabras cruzadas (word puzzle) · tr kare bulmaca (word puzzle) · it cruciverba (word puzzle) · et ristsõna (word puzzle) · tk krossword (word puzzle) · cmn 填字遊戲 /填字游戏 (word puzzle) · mk крстозбор (word puzzle) · cy croesair (word puzzle) · pt palavras cruzadas (word puzzle) · fa-ira کِراس وِرْد (word puzzle) · sq fjalëkryq (word puzzle) · cs křížovka (word puzzle) · te పదబంధ ప్రహేళిక (word puzzle) · ja クロスワード (word puzzle) · he תַּשְׁבֵּץ (word puzzle) · da kryds-og-tværsopgave (word puzzle) · es crucigrama (word puzzle) · nrf mots crouaîsis (word puzzle) · hy խաչբառ (word puzzle) · fi ristisanatehtävä (word puzzle) · mn үгийн сүлжээ (word puzzle) · eo krucvortenigmo (word puzzle) · sh укрштеница (word puzzle) · hu keresztrejtvény (word puzzle) · be красво́рд (word puzzle) · sl križanka (word puzzle) · lv krustvārdu mīkla (word puzzle) · sk krížovka (word puzzle) · ro cuvinte încrucișate (word puzzle) · de Kreuzworträtsel (word puzzle) · sh крстословница (word puzzle) · fr grille de mots croisés (word puzzle) · mk крстозборка (word puzzle) · nb kryssord (word puzzle) · sh ukrštenica (word puzzle) · nl kruiswoordpuzzel (word puzzle) · fr mot-croisé (a grid) · is krossgáta (word puzzle) · ka კროსვორდი (word puzzle) · ko 크로스워드 (word puzzle) · ba кроссворд (word puzzle) · th อักษรไขว้ (word puzzle) · ca mots encreuats (word puzzle) · sh krížāljka (word puzzle) · th ปริศนาอักษรไขว้ (word puzzle) · hi वर्ग-पहेली (word puzzle) · da krydsordsopgave (word puzzle) · cmn 縱橫字謎 /纵横字谜 (word puzzle) · sh кри́жа̄љка (word puzzle) · et ristsõnad (word puzzle) · mi panga kupu (word puzzle) · ky кроссворд (word puzzle) · nds Krüüzwoortradels (word puzzle) · fa-ira جَدْوَلِ کَلِماتِ مُتَقاطِع (word puzzle) · he תַּשְׁחֵץ (word puzzle) · af blokkiesraaisel (word puzzle) · rsk крижалька (word puzzle) · sh krstoslovnica (word puzzle) · ga crosfhocal (word puzzle) · hi क्रॉसवर्ड (word puzzle) · ur کِراس وَرْڈ (word puzzle) · fa-ira جَدْوَل (word puzzle) · fo krossorðagáta (word puzzle) · eo krucvorto (word puzzle) · ar كَلِمَات مُتَقَاطِعَة (word puzzle) · nl kruiswoordraadsel (word puzzle) · tr çapraz bulmaca (word puzzle) · ko 십자말 (word puzzle) · sv kryss (word puzzle) · pl krzyżówka (word puzzle)