cruise
cruise
Pronunciation
cruise: /kruːz/
kruːz: /kruːz/
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: cruise
Plural Noun: cruises
Verb (base form): cruise
Verb (third-person singular present): cruises
Verb (present participle): cruising
Verb (past tense/past participle): cruised
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A leisurely voyage or trip on a ship or boat, typically for pleasure, stopping at various ports.
Synonyms: voyage, journey, trip, sail, excursion
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it describes a specific type of travel. One might consider "staycation" or "home-bound travel" as conceptual opposites in terms of leaving home.)
Verb
To travel in a leisurely and unhurried way, especially by boat or car.
Synonyms: sail, journey, drift, glide, coast, roam, travel
Antonyms: rush, hurry, speed, dash, sprint
To move or operate at a moderate and efficient speed.
Synonyms: glide, flow, operate smoothly, function efficiently
Antonyms: falter, struggle, labor, jam, break down
To search for something or someone, often casually and without a specific destination, as in "cruising for a date." (Often implies a less formal or more recreational search.)
Synonyms: roam, wander, scout, search (casually), look for
Antonyms: target, pinpoint, focus, zero in
Examples of Use
Books:
"The Queen Mary 2 offers transatlantic crossings, a more traditional sea voyage than a typical pleasure cruise." (Example based on common knowledge of ocean liner services)
"They decided to cruise the Mediterranean for their honeymoon, visiting ancient ruins and sun-drenched islands." (General example of travel narrative)
Newspapers:
"The rising cost of fuel is impacting the profitability of the luxury cruise industry." (The Wall Street Journal)
"Police will cruise residential neighborhoods more frequently to deter property crime." (Local newspaper report)
Online Publications:
"Review: The new electric car can cruise for over 300 miles on a single charge." (Ars Technica)
"Travel bloggers share their top tips for finding deals on last-minute cruises to Alaska." (Lonely Planet online)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: In the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Ferris and his friends famously cruise around Chicago in a Ferrari.
Music: The Beach Boys' song "Fun, Fun, Fun" includes the line, "And she'll have fun, fun, fun, 'til her daddy takes the T-Bird away," depicting a car cruise.
Video Games: Many open-world driving games, like Grand Theft Auto, allow players to freely cruise around virtual cities.
Television: Reality shows about travel often feature segments where participants embark on a cruise to various destinations.
General Public Discourse:
"We're going on a Caribbean cruise next spring, I can't wait!" (Casual conversation among friends)
"Let's just cruise down the highway for a bit and enjoy the scenery." (Informal suggestion while driving)
"The pilot announced that the plane was at its optimal cruising altitude." (Announcement heard on an airplane)
10 Quotes Using Cruise
"There is nothing more enticing, disenchanting, and enslaving than the life at sea." - Joseph Conrad, referring to a sailing cruise. (A modified quote from Joseph Conrad's writings, reflecting the sentiment of sea voyages)
"The ocean is a mighty harmonist." - William Wordsworth, often evoked in the context of a peaceful cruise. (A sentiment attributed to Wordsworth, often associated with the calming nature of the sea experienced on a cruise)
"I love to cruise along in my old car, windows down, music up." (Original quote)
"Life is a journey, not a destination, so enjoy the cruise." (A common motivational saying, adapted)
"On a cruise, you can truly disconnect from the world." (Original quote)
"Some ships are designed to travel, others to cruise." (Original quote)
"A sunset at sea during a cruise is unparalleled." (Original quote)
"My ideal vacation involves a long, leisurely cruise." (Original quote)
"Let's just cruise through the rest of the day." (Common colloquialism)
"The cruise industry has faced many challenges, but it always rebounds." (General observation about the industry)
Etymology
The word "cruise" has a fascinating journey through language!
It ultimately comes from the Dutch word "kruisen," which meant "to cross" or "to sail back and forth." Imagine a ship sailing criss-cross patterns across the sea – that's the core idea.
The first known use of "cruise" in English, around the early 17th century (specifically the 1600s), was directly related to sailing. It meant to sail about the sea without a definite course or destination, often for pleasure, observation, or even for naval purposes like patrolling a specific area. It wasn't about getting from point A to point B as quickly as possible, but more about the act of sailing itself, often in a leisurely or exploratory way. Over time, the meaning broadened to include leisurely travel by other means, like cars.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Cruise
Cruise control: A system in a vehicle that maintains a set speed, allowing the driver to "cruise" without constant accelerator input.
Cruising for a bruising: (Informal) Acting in a way that is likely to lead to trouble or punishment.
Cruise along: To move smoothly and easily, often without difficulty.
Cruise through (something): To complete a task or overcome a challenge with ease.
On the cruise: (Less common) Enjoying a leisurely journey or a period of relaxation.
Sail smoothly: (Synonym idiom) To proceed without problems or difficulties.
Glide through: (Synonym phrase) To move effortlessly through a situation or task.
Easy sailing: (Synonym idiom) A situation where everything is going well and without obstacles.
Plain sailing: (Synonym idiom) A straightforward and easy course of action.
Smooth as a cruise: (Original phrase) Describing something that is exceptionally smooth or goes perfectly.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of cruise from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
