cross wind: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical/General
Quick answer
What does “cross wind” mean?
A wind blowing perpendicularly or at a significant angle to the intended direction of travel, particularly of a vehicle, ship, or aircraft.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A wind blowing perpendicularly or at a significant angle to the intended direction of travel, particularly of a vehicle, ship, or aircraft.
Any opposing or complicating force that disrupts progress; a figurative obstacle or hindrance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major syntactic or semantic differences. Both prefer 'crosswind' as a single compound word, though 'cross wind' is also found. 'Crosswind' is the more standardised modern form in aviation and motoring contexts.
Connotations
Neutral-technical in both varieties. Associated with aviation, sailing, cycling, and driving.
Frequency
Equally common in technical contexts. Slightly more frequent in British English in general writing, likely due to more prevalent discussion of sailing and cycling conditions.
Grammar
How to Use “cross wind” in a Sentence
Encounter + [crosswind]Land/take off + in + [crosswind]Correct/compensate for + [crosswind]Be buffeted by + [crosswind]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cross wind” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The pilot executed a perfect crosswind landing at Heathrow.
American English
- Drivers were warned of dangerous crosswind conditions on the interstate.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Figurative: 'The merger proceeded smoothly, but we encountered a regulatory crosswind in the final quarter.'
Academic
Used in meteorology, engineering, and transport studies to analyse vehicle stability and safety.
Everyday
Discussed when cycling, driving high-sided vehicles, or during turbulent flights. 'The bus swayed in the strong crosswind.'
Technical
Precise measurement in aviation (knots) as a component affecting landing approach; in automotive engineering regarding vehicle dynamics.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cross wind”
- Using 'crosswind' to mean any strong wind (it must have a perpendicular component).
- Confusing 'crosswind' with 'headwind'.
- Misspelling as two words ('cross wind') in modern technical writing where 'crosswind' is standard.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Modern standard usage, especially in technical fields like aviation, favours the single compound word 'crosswind'. The open form 'cross wind' is also correct but less common.
A headwind blows directly against your direction of travel, slowing you down. A crosswind blows from the side, pushing you off course and requiring corrective steering.
Yes. It is often used in business and political writing to mean an unexpected obstacle or complicating factor that requires careful navigation, e.g., 'The project faced several economic crosswinds.'
Not always. A light crosswind is routine. Danger increases with wind speed, gusts, and the vehicle's susceptibility (e.g., high-sided vehicles, light aircraft during take-off/landing). Pilots and drivers are trained to compensate.
A wind blowing perpendicularly or at a significant angle to the intended direction of travel, particularly of a vehicle, ship, or aircraft.
Cross wind is usually technical/general in register.
Cross wind: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkrɒs wɪnd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkrɔːs wɪnd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a giant CROSS (+) painted on the road. The wind is blowing directly across it, from one side to the other, pushing you off your path.
Conceptual Metaphor
OBSTACLES ARE ADVERSE WINDS; LIFE IS A JOURNEY.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'crosswind' used most precisely?