la crosse
MediumNeutral, slightly more formal in sports reporting.
Definition
Meaning
A team sport played with a long-handled stick (crosse) and a rubber ball, originally played by some North American Indigenous peoples.
Can refer to the equipment used in the sport (e.g., 'new lacrosse'), the culture surrounding it, or metaphorically to swift, aggressive action.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a count noun referring to the sport ('play lacrosse'). Rarely used as an uncountable noun for the concept.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The sport is far more widely played, followed, and understood in North America (especially the US and Canada) than in the UK.
Connotations
In the US/Canada: A mainstream field sport, often associated with schools, universities, and specific regional popularity. In the UK: A more niche, unfamiliar sport, possibly perceived as North American.
Frequency
High frequency in North American sports contexts; low frequency in general British English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] play(s) lacrossea game/match of lacrossethe [noun] of lacrosse (e.g., rules, history)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not common. The sport name itself is rarely used idiomatically.]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in the context of sports equipment manufacturing, retail, or franchise management.
Academic
Used in historical, anthropological, or sports science contexts discussing the origins, culture, or biomechanics of the sport.
Everyday
Used when discussing hobbies, school sports, or North American culture.
Technical
Specific to sports coaching, equipment design (e.g., stick mesh, pocket depth), and game rules (e.g., crease, offsides).
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- She bought a new lacrosse stick for the season.
- The school's lacrosse facilities are outstanding.
American English
- He made the varsity lacrosse team this year.
- Lacrosse practice starts at 4 PM sharp.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My brother plays lacrosse on Saturdays.
- We watched a lacrosse game on TV.
- The university has a very strong men's and women's lacrosse programme.
- You need a helmet and gloves to play lacrosse safely.
- Lacrosse, which originated with Indigenous peoples, has evolved into a fast-paced modern sport.
- The team's strategy hinges on dominating possession from the lacrosse face-off.
- The burgeoning popularity of collegiate lacrosse is reshaping the athletic recruitment landscape in the eastern states.
- Anthropologists study the ceremonial precursors to modern lacrosse to understand their cultural significance.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a LACkey (servant) trying to CROSS a field while clumsily carrying a long stick. The sport 'lacrosse' involves crossing a field with a stick.
Conceptual Metaphor
WAR/BATTLE (e.g., 'a midfield battle', 'attack the goal', 'defensive unit'); CHESS (strategic positioning and plays).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation or association with 'крокет' (croquet) or 'хоккей' (hockey). The sport is 'лакросс' in Russian.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'lacross', 'la cross', or 'lacros'.
- Using 'a lacrosse' instead of 'a game of lacrosse' or just 'lacrosse' (e.g., 'He plays a lacrosse' is incorrect).
Practice
Quiz
In which region is lacrosse MOST culturally and popularly entrenched as a mainstream sport?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Lacrosse has been featured in the Olympics historically (1904, 1908) and is returning as a medal sport for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Men's lacrosse is a full-contact sport with more protective equipment. Women's lacrosse has limited contact, different stick rules, and typically less padding.
It originated among various Indigenous peoples of North America, where it held cultural, spiritual, and diplomatic significance long before European contact.
Superficially, as both are stick-and-ball games. However, the rules, playing field, type of stick, and gameplay are distinctly different. Hockey is played on ice or a hard surface; lacrosse is primarily a field sport.