cruciate

American  

[kroo-shee-it, -eyt] / ˈkru ʃi ɪt, -ˌeɪt /

adjective

1. shaped like a cross; cross-shaped.

2. Botany. having the form of a cross with equal arms, as the flowers of mustard.

3. Entomology. crossing diagonally when at rest, as the wings of certain insects.

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cruciate British  

/ ˈkruːʃɪɪt, -ˌeɪt /

adjective

1. shaped or arranged like a cross

   cruciate petals

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noun

1. informal

   1. short for cruciate ligament

   2. ( as modifier )

      cruciate problems

Other Word Forms

• cruciately adverb
• postcruciate adjective

Etymology

Origin of cruciate

1675–85; < New Latin cruciātus, equivalent to Latin cruci- (stem of crux ) cross + -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Kulusevski had surgery on a patella injury sustained last season while Maddison tore his anterior cruciate ligament in a pre-season friendly against Newcastle in June.

From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026

Sivo joined the Rhinos before the 2025 season but missed the whole campaign after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.

From BBC • Mar. 1, 2026

And it happened to her a week earlier, too, when she sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament in a crash at Crans-Montana, Switzerland.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026

That’s why Vonn was even racing on Jan. 30 in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, when she careened off course and ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 8, 2026

When the doctor opened the knee up he discovered that Boobie had torn the anterior cruciate ligament.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger