across: Meaning and Definition of

a•cross

Pronunciation: (u-krôs', u-kros'), [key]
— prep.
  1. from one side to the other of: a bridge across a river.
  2. on or to the other side of; beyond: across the sea.
  3. into contact with; into the presence of, usually by accident: to come across an old friend; to run across a first edition of Byron.
  4. crosswise of or transversely to the length of something; athwart: coats across the bed; straddled across the boundary line.
—adv.
  1. from one side to another.
  2. on the other side: We'll soon be across.
  3. crosswise; transversely: with arms across.
  4. so as to be understood or learned: He couldn't get the idea across to the class.
  5. into a desired or successful state: to put a business deal across.
—adj.
  1. being in a crossed or transverse position; crosswise: an across pattern of supporting beams.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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