What is the difference between a Russian optimist, pessimist and realist?
The optimist studies English.
The pessimist studies Chinese.
The realist stays home and cleans his kalashnikov.
—v. Sing, hum, or say in a low sentimental voice. —n. Such singing etc. crooner n. [low german or dutch]
CROSS
—n. - upright post with a transverse bar, as used in antiquity for crucifixion.
- a (the cross) cross on which christ was crucified. B representation of this as an emblem of christianity. C = *sign of the cross.
- staff surmounted by a cross, carried in a religious procession.
- thing or mark like a cross, esp. Two short intersecting lines (+ or x).
- cross-shaped military etc. Decoration.
- a hybrid. B crossing of breeds etc.
- (foll. By between) mixture of two things.
- crosswise movement, pass in football, etc.
- trial or affliction. —v. - (often foll. By over) go across.
- intersect; (cause to) be across (roads cross; cross one's legs).
- a draw line(s) across. B mark (a cheque) with two parallel lines to indicate that it cannot be cashed.
- (foll. By off, out, through) cancel etc. By drawing lines across.
- (often refl.) Make the sign of the cross on or over.
- a pass in opposite or different directions. B (of letters etc.) Be sent at the same time. C (of telephone lines) be connected to an unwanted conversation.
- a cause to interbreed. B cross-fertilize (plants).
- oppose or thwart (crossed in love). —adj. - (often foll. By with) peevish, angry.
- (usu. Attrib.) Transverse; reaching from side to side.
- (usu. Attrib.) Intersecting.
- (usu. Attrib.) Contrary, opposed, reciprocal. at cross purposes misunderstanding; conflicting. Cross one's fingers (or keep one's fingers crossed) 1 put one finger across another to ward off bad luck.
- trust in good luck. Cross one's heart make a solemn pledge, esp. By crossing one's front. Cross one's mind occur to one, esp. Transiently. Cross swords (often foll. By with) argue or dispute. Cross wires (or get one's wires crossed) 1 become wrongly connected by telephone.
- have a misunderstanding. On the cross diagonally. crossly adv. Crossness n. [latin crux]
CROUP
n. Childhood inflammation of the larynx etc., with a hard cough. [imitative]
- n. Rump, esp. Of a horse. [french: related to *crop]
CROWD
—n. - large gathering of people.
- spectators; audience.
- colloq. Particular set of people.
- (prec. By the) majority. —v. - a (cause to) come together in a crowd. B force one's way (crowded into the cinema).
- a (foll. By into) force or compress into a confined space. B (often foll. By with; usu. In passive) fill or make full of.
- colloq. Come aggressively close to. crowd out exclude by crowding. crowdedness n. [old english]
CROWN
colony n. British colony controlled by the crown.
- court n. Court of criminal jurisdiction in england and wales.
- derby n. Porcelain made at derby and often marked with a crown.
- glass n. Glass without lead or iron used formerly in windows, now as optical glass of low refractive index.
- jewels n.pl. Sovereign's state regalia etc.
- prince n. Male heir to a throne.
- princess n. - wife of a crown prince.
- female heir to a throne.
- wheel n. Wheel with teeth at right angles to its plane.
- —n. - monarch's jewelled headdress.
- (the crown) a monarch as head of state. B power or authority of the monarchy.
- a wreath for the head as an emblem of victory. B award or distinction, esp. In sport.
- crown-shaped ornament etc.
- top part of the head, a hat, etc.
- a highest or central part (crown of the road). B thing that completes or forms a summit.
- a part of a tooth visible outside the gum. B artificial replacement for this.
- former british coin worth five shillings. —v. - put a crown on (a person or head).
- invest with a royal crown or authority.
- be a crown to; rest on top of.
- a (often as crowning adj.) (cause to) be the reward, summit, or finishing touch to (crowning glory). B bring to a happy outcome.
- fit a crown to (a tooth).
- slang hit on the head.
- promote (a piece in draughts) to king. [latin corona]
CRUDE
—adj. - a in the natural state; not refined. B unpolished; lacking finish.
- a rude, blunt. B offensive, indecent.
- inexact. —n. Natural mineral oil. crudely adv. Crudeness n. Crudity n. [latin crudus raw]
CRUEL
adj. (crueller, cruellest or crueler, cruelest) 1 causing pain or suffering, esp. Deliberately.
- harsh, severe (a cruel blow). cruelly adv. Cruelness n. Cruelty n. (pl. -ies). [latin: related to *crude]
CRUET
n. - set of small salt, pepper, etc. Containers for use at table.
- such a container. [anglo-french diminutive: related to *crock2]
CRUMB
—n. - a small fragment, esp. Of bread. B small particle (crumb of comfort).
- bread without crusts.
- slang objectionable person. —v. Cover with or break into breadcrumbs. [old english]
