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noun A2 Elementary Common

cruise

krooz
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Cruise (noun) means a leisure voyage by ship, often stopping at several ports. Example: “We are saving up for a week-long cruise through the Norwegian fjords.”

noun
1
A leisure voyage by ship, often stopping at several ports.
"We are saving up for a week-long cruise through the Norwegian fjords."
"Her grandparents celebrated their anniversary with a relaxing river cruise."
"They booked a ten-day cruise around the Mediterranean."
verb
1
To travel at a steady, comfortable speed without hurrying.
"The little boat cruised slowly along the canal while we watched the ducks."
"The plane cruised at 35,000 feet for most of the flight."
"We cruised down the coastal road with the windows down."
2
To win or succeed easily.
"She cruised through the exam and finished a full hour early."
"Our team cruised past every opponent in the local quiz league."
"The champions cruised to victory in the final."

How to use cruise

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA relaxed sea voyage, or travelling/succeeding at an easy, steady pace.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
go on a cruise cruise at a steady speed cruise to victory
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Word forms

Plural
cruises
Third person singular
cruises
Past tense
cruised
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

We are saving up for a week-long _____ through the Norwegian fjords.

Etymology

From Dutch kruisen ("to cross, sail around"), from kruis ("cross"), ultimately from Latin crux.

Origin: Latin

voyage sail coast glide sea trip

Related words

Rhymes for cruise

See all rhymes for cruise →

Frequently asked questions

What does “cruise” mean?
The word “cruise” means a leisure voyage by ship, often stopping at several ports. In plain terms, a relaxed sea voyage, or travelling/succeeding at an easy, steady pace.
How do you pronounce “cruise”?
“Cruise” is pronounced krooz (/kɹuz/ in IPA).
How do you use “cruise” in a sentence?
Here is “cruise” used in a sentence: “They booked a ten-day cruise around the Mediterranean.”
What part of speech is “cruise”?
Depending on how it is used, “cruise” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “cruise” come from?
The word “cruise” comes from Latin. From Dutch kruisen ("to cross, sail around"), from kruis ("cross"), ultimately from Latin crux.
Is “cruise” a common word?
“Cruise” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “cruise” have?
“Cruise” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a leisure voyage by ship, often stopping at several ports.
What is the difference between a cruise and a voyage?
A cruise is a leisure voyage by ship, often stopping at several ports for enjoyment, while a "voyage" is any long journey by sea or space, whatever its purpose. All cruises are voyages, but a voyage is not necessarily for leisure.
What is the difference between "cruise" and "sail"?
"Sail" broadly means to travel on water, especially by wind power, while "cruise" as a noun is specifically a leisure voyage and as a verb means to move at an easy, steady pace. You sail a small boat but take a cruise on a large ship.
What are common collocations with "cruise"?
Common phrases include "go on a cruise," "cruise ship," "cruise control," and "cruise along." The noun pairs with holiday travel, while the verb pairs with steady, relaxed movement.

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