# cruise

Pronunciation: US say "KROOZ" /kɹuːz/; UK

## Noun

1. A voyage on the sea or a lake, especially one taken for pleasure.
   - Simple: A boat trip on the sea or a lake, often taken for fun.
   - _The couple celebrated their anniversary with a week-long cruise through the Mediterranean._
   - _Several luxury cruises depart from Miami every weekend._
5. The portion of an aircraft's flight at constant airspeed and altitude, between the climb and descent phases.
   - Simple: The steady part of a flight, between climbing up and coming down, when a plane flies at one height and speed.
   - _The autopilot maintained a steady altitude throughout the cruise._
   - _Fuel burn drops significantly once the aircraft settles into cruise._
9. An event at which car enthusiasts drive their vehicles together as a group.
   - Simple: A meetup where car fans drive their vehicles together in a group.
   - _The local club organizes a monthly cruise along the coastal road._
   - _Dozens of restored muscle cars lined up for the charity cruise._
12. A period of time spent serving in the Marine Corps. *(colloquial, US)*
   - Simple: A length of time someone serves in the Marine Corps.
   - _After a four-year cruise in the Corps, he returned to civilian life._
   - _Old buddies often swap stories about their first cruise._
14. A period during which a user takes a reduced dose of performance-enhancing drugs rather than stopping them entirely, in contrast to a full-dose phase known as a blast. *(slang)*
   - Simple: A time when someone takes a lower dose of muscle-building drugs instead of stopping them, unlike a full-dose phase.
   - _Between contests he kept a steady cruise to hold onto his gains._
   - _A long cruise lets the body recover while keeping some of the benefits._
16. A small cup or vessel, especially one used for holding liquids.
   - Simple: A small cup or container for holding liquids.
   - _He filled the cruise with olive oil for the lamp._
   - _A small earthenware cruise held the last of the wine._

## Verb

2. To sail from place to place, especially for pleasure.
   - Simple: To sail around on a boat, usually just for fun.
   - _Many sailors cruise leisurely along the coastline during the calm summer months._
   - _The small boat cruised gently between the harbors at sunset._
3. To travel at a constant speed that gives the best operating efficiency.
   - Simple: To travel at a steady speed that uses the least fuel or energy.
   - _Most airliners cruise at around five hundred miles per hour to conserve fuel._
   - _The car cruises comfortably on long stretches of open road._
4. To achieve an easy and decisive victory without serious difficulty.
   - Simple: To win a game or race easily, without much trouble.
   - _The champions cruised past their rivals to win the title easily._
   - _Favorites usually cruise through the early rounds of the tournament._
6. To move leisurely around an area in the hope of finding something or attracting customers.
   - Simple: To move slowly around an area, hoping to find something or get customers.
   - _Police cars cruise the neighborhood after dark, watching for trouble._
   - _Vendors cruised the beach all afternoon, selling cold drinks to tourists._
7. To move around a particular area actively looking for a romantic or casual sexual partner. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: To go around a place trying to meet someone for romance or sex.
   - _On weekends he would cruise around the popular nightspots, hoping to find a partner._
   - _She cruised through the festival crowd, scanning for someone to flirt with._
8. To show romantic or sexual interest in someone in an attempt to attract them as a casual partner. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: To try to attract someone as a casual romantic or sexual partner.
   - _Men would cruise her constantly whenever she went out alone._
   - _She cruised the new guy at work for weeks before finally asking him out._
10. To take part in an event where car enthusiasts drive their vehicles together as a group.
   - Simple: To join a group of car fans driving their vehicles together.
   - _Classic-car fans cruise downtown on the first Saturday of every month._
   - _Hundreds of enthusiasts cruised together to raise money for charity._
11. Of a baby, to walk while holding on to furniture or other objects for support.
   - Simple: When a baby walks by holding on to furniture or other objects for support.
   - _Most infants begin to cruise around ten months, steadying themselves on low furniture._
   - _He cruised confidently along the sofa but still couldn't stand unaided._
13. To survey a tract of forest in order to estimate the volume of timber it will yield.
   - Simple: To examine an area of forest to estimate how much wood it can produce.
   - _Foresters cruise the stand carefully before any logging contract is signed._
   - _They cruised forty acres of pine to estimate its lumber value._
15. To maintain a reduced dose of performance-enhancing drugs for a period rather than stopping them between cycles. *(slang)*
   - Simple: To take a lower dose of muscle-building drugs for a while instead of stopping them.
   - _She chose to cruise through the off-season to protect her health._
   - _Experienced users often cruise rather than coming off entirely._

## Origin

English borrowed this from Dutch kruisen ("to cross, to sail around"), which came from kruis ("cross"), from Middle Dutch cruce, and ultimately from Latin crux.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/cruise (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).