Laxi Dictionary

English Dictionary

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Definition across in British English

across adverb, preposition

adverb, preposition
/əˈkrɒs/

Across can be used in the following ways:

as a preposition (followed by a noun): I walked across the road.

as an adverb (without a following noun): Our host hurried across to meet us.

1

moving or looking from one side of a place, space, or line to the other

1.1

moving or looking from one side of a place, space, or line to the other

Example

Over 70 airlines fly across the Atlantic between Europe and North America.

Example

Barbara stared across the room at her husband.

Example

The children ran straight across in front of our car.

Synonyms and related words
direct advancing oncoming
1.2

reaching from one side of a space or surface to the other

Example

Max's body lay across the doorway where he had fallen.

Example

There are four bridges across the River Danube.

Example

He stood in silence with his arms folded across his chest.

Synonyms and related words
about across after
1.3

used for showing the width of something

Example

The channel is less than half a mile across in some places.

Synonyms and related words
across attenuated broad
2

on the opposite side of a road, river, line etc

Example

There's a bus stop just across the road.

Example

They had opened a new factory across the border in Mexico.

Example

I'm staying at a little hotel just across from the Libyan Embassy.

Synonyms and related words
about across after
3

in many parts of an area or country

3.1

in many parts of an area or country

Example

an insurance company that has over 120 offices across Europe

Example

There are 20 million landmines scattered right across the region.

Synonyms and related words
about across after
3.2

used for saying that something hits or affects a large area of a part of your body

Example

Julia felt a burning pain across her forehead.

Example

He struck me a blow across the shoulders.

3.3

used for saying that something spreads until it covers the whole of an area or surface

Example

There is a danger of the conflict spreading across the whole of Central Africa.

Example

A broad smile spread across the old man's face.

Synonyms and related words
about across after
4

used for saying that something includes or affects a whole range of people or things

Example

We need to test students' ability across a wide range of subjects.

Example

The figures show that across the economy as a whole there has been steady growth.

Synonyms and related words
everything whole all
Definition across in British English