crossword

IPA/ˈkrɒswɜːd/
KK[krˈɔswˌɚd]IPA/ˈkrɔːswɜːrd/

crossword — noun

  • crosswordsingular
  • crosswordsplural

1. A crossword is a word game played on a square grid. You solve short clues and pl

1.nounB1
Definition

A crossword is a word game played on a square grid. You solve short clues and place each answer in the empty white squares of the grid. The finished words go across or down.

Example

Priya finished the crossword in the Sunday newspaper before lunch.

collocation: finish a crossword

This crossword puzzle has forty clues, but eight of them are very difficult.

countable noun structure: a / this crossword

Common collocations
  • do a crossword
  • solve a crossword
  • finish a crossword
  • work on a crossword
  • crossword clue
  • crossword puzzle
  • crossword grid
Synonyms
  • puzzle

    much broader term — a crossword is a specific type of puzzle with clues and a grid

  • word puzzle

    slightly broader category that also includes word searches and anagrams

  • crossword puzzle

    the full form of the same word; slightly more formal

Grammar Patterns

a / the crossword

crossword + noun (e.g. crossword clue, crossword puzzle)

Common Mistakes

I like to do cross words in my free time.
I like to do crosswords in my free time.
'crossword' is one word, not two separate words.
I finished a word search in the newspaper this morning.' (when meaning a crossword)
I finished a crossword in the newspaper this morning.
a word search and a crossword are different types of puzzles.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A crossword is a specific type of puzzle where you solve written clues and write the answers into a numbered grid. A word search also uses a grid of letters, but you simply find hidden words rather than solving clues — it requires less reasoning. Sudoku is a number-placement puzzle with no words or clues at all, only digits from 1 to 9. Brainteaser is the most general term and can refer to any short mental challenge, including riddles or logic problems, not necessarily involving a grid. So while all four test your thinking, only the crossword combines vocabulary knowledge with a crossing-letter grid structure. For example, a Sunday newspaper might include a crossword for vocabulary lovers, a sudoku for number fans, and a brainteaser for quick thinkers.

puzzle ↗word searchsudokubrainteaser ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • do a crossword
  • solve a crossword
  • finish a crossword
  • work on a crossword

Prepositions

  • in a crossword
  • across a crossword

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

The word 'crossword' is a blend of 'cross' and 'word', formed because the words in the puzzle cross each other — reading across (left to right) and down (top to bottom). The first modern crossword puzzle was created by British-born journalist Arthur Wynne and appeared in the New York World newspaper on December 21, 1913. The word itself was first recorded in English around 1924.