crossroad
B2Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A place where two or more roads meet and cross.
A point at which a crucial decision must be made; a critical juncture in life or a situation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Crossroad" can refer both to a physical intersection of roads and, figuratively, to a decisive moment. While the plural form "crossroads" is now the standard for both senses, "crossroad" (singular) can still be found, especially in attributive use (e.g., a crossroad junction).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Both use "crossroads" as the dominant singular/plural form, though "crossroad" (singular) is slightly more common in American English attributively.
Connotations
Both share the figurative 'decision point' connotation.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in British English due to place names (e.g., 'Hanger Lane Crossroads').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N be at a ~V (reach/stand/face) a ~the ~ of N (figurative)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “stand at the crossroads”
- “be at a crossroads (in one's life)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The company is at a strategic crossroads and must decide whether to invest or sell."
Academic
"The treaty marked a crossroads in the diplomatic relations of the two empires."
Everyday
"Turn left at the next crossroad."
Technical
In traffic engineering, "crossroad" is a specific type of at-grade intersection.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The new housing estate will be built on crossroad land.
- They installed crossroad signage.
American English
- We need a crossroad traffic study.
- He lives in a crossroad town.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- There's a shop at the crossroad.
- Be careful when you drive through a crossroad.
- The village is just past the next crossroad.
- I think we took the wrong turn at that crossroad.
- The peace negotiations have reached a critical crossroad.
- The town grew because it was at a major crossroad of ancient trade routes.
- Her research stands at the crossroads of sociology and political theory.
- Historians view the war as a crossroads, after which the continent's power structure was irrevocably altered.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
"A CROSSROAD is where roads CROSS; you must choose which one to take."
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A JOURNEY / DECISIONS ARE PATHS
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation from the Russian phrase 'на перепутье' in all contexts; use 'at a crossroads' for the figurative sense.
- The singular 'crossroad' is less common than the plural 'crossroads' which is treated as singular.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'crossroad' for the figurative sense instead of the more idiomatic 'crossroads'.
- Treating 'crossroads' as grammatically plural (e.g., 'these crossroads are' is less common than 'this crossroads is').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'crossroad' figuratively?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both can be used, but 'crossroads' is far more common for both the literal intersection and the figurative 'decision point', and it is typically treated as singular (e.g., this crossroads is).
Yes, 'crossroads' is the standard plural form. Interestingly, 'crossroads' is also used as the singular form.
In everyday language, they are synonyms. Technically, all crossroads are intersections, but not all intersections are crossroads (e.g., a T-junction is an intersection but not a crossroad, which implies roads crossing).
Use the phrase 'at a crossroads' (almost always plural). Example: 'My career is at a crossroads.' It signifies a point where an important choice must be made.
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