cruise Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an ocean trip taken for pleasure
    sail.
  2. verb drive around aimlessly but ostentatiously and at leisure
    • She cruised the neighborhood in her new convertible
  3. verb travel at a moderate speed
    • Please keep your seat belt fastened while the plane is reaching cruising altitude
  4. verb look for a sexual partner in a public place
    • The men were cruising the park
  5. verb sail or travel about for pleasure, relaxation, or sightseeing
    • We were cruising in the Caribbean

WordNet

Cruise noun
Definitions
  1. See Cruse, a small bottle.
Cruise intransitive verb
Etymology
D. kruisen to move crosswise or in a zigzag, to cruise, fr. kruis cross, fr. OF. crois, croiz, F. croix, or directly fr. OF. croisier, F. croiser, to cross, cruise, fr. crois a cross. See Cross.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Cruised present participle & verbal noun Cruising
Definitions
  1. To sail back and forth on the ocean; to sail, as for the potection of commerce, in search of an enemy, for plunder, or for pleasure. ✍ A ship cruises in any particular sea or ocean; as, in the Baltic or in the Atlantic. She cruises off any cape; as, off the Lizard; off Ushant. She cruises on a coast; as, on the coast of Africa. A priate cruises to seize vessels; a yacht cruises for the pleasure of the owner.
    Ships of war were aent to cruise near the isle of Bute. Macualay.
    'Mid sands, and rocks, and storms to cruise for pleasure. Young.
  2. To wander hither and thither on land. Colloq.
Cruise noun
Definitions
  1. A voyage made in various directions, as of an armed vessel, for the protection of other vessels, or in search of an enemy; a sailing to and fro, as for exploration or for pleasure.
    He feigned a compliance with some of his men, who were bent upon going a cruise to Manilla. Dampier.

Webster 1913