crossroads
gb/kɹˈɔsɹˌoʊdz/ us/kɹˈɔsɹˌoʊdz/
B1
Inglese
Accezioni
0 accezioni
Sostantivo
B1
entity
1
place where roads cross
a place where two roads meet and cross
Schema d'uso:
at the crossroads; a crossroads
Errore comune:
Although it looks plural, 'crossroads' is often treated as singular when it means one place (e.g., 'the crossroads is busy').
Sinonimi
intersection (General term for roads crossing, often in towns and cities.)
|
junction (Common in UK English for a place where roads meet.)
Contrari
straightaway (A stretch of road with no crossing or junction.)
Collocazioni
busy crossroads
|major crossroads
|rural crossroads
|traffic at the crossroads
|stop at the crossroads
|turn left at the crossroads
|a crossroads with traffic lights
|a crossroads junction
|near the crossroads
|wait at the crossroads
Temi
travel
|places
|daily_life
Esempi
- There’s a small café at the crossroads just outside the village.
- Turn right at the crossroads and continue for two miles.
- The police blocked the crossroads to control the traffic.
Esempi per chi studia
- We stopped at the crossroads.
- Turn left at the crossroads.
Sostantivo
B2
abstract
2
time to make a big choice
a moment when you must choose what to do next
Schema d'uso:
at a crossroads; reach a crossroads; a crossroads in [someone]'s life/career
Errore comune:
Learners sometimes use it for any small choice; it usually suggests a serious or life-changing decision.
Sinonimi
turning point (Emphasizes that things will change after this moment.)
|
critical juncture (More formal; often used in politics or business.)
Contrari
status quo (The situation staying the same rather than changing direction.)
Collocazioni
at a crossroads
|reach a crossroads
|stand at a crossroads
|a crossroads in my life
|a crossroads in his career
|a crossroads moment
|a crossroads decision
|a crossroads for the company
|a crossroads for the country
|a crossroads in history
Temi
life
|decisions
|work
|society
Esempi
- After graduation, she found herself at a crossroads.
- The company is at a crossroads and must decide whether to expand or cut back.
- It was a crossroads in his career: stay in academia or move into industry.
Esempi per chi studia
- I am at a crossroads in my life.
- We are at a crossroads and must decide.
Sostantivo
C1
abstract
3
meeting point of different cultures
a place where different cultures or ideas meet
Schema d'uso:
a crossroads of [cultures/ideas/trade/routes]
Errore comune:
Don't confuse this meaning (a meeting place) with the 'decision point' meaning, which is about choosing between options.
Sinonimi
meeting point (More literal; does not necessarily suggest mixing influences.)
|
hub (Emphasizes centrality and connections, often for transport or activity.)
Contrari
backwater (A place that is isolated and not influenced by outside ideas or activity.)
Collocazioni
a crossroads of cultures
|a crossroads of civilizations
|a crossroads of ideas
|a crossroads of trade
|a crossroads between East and West
|a cultural crossroads
|a historic crossroads
|a crossroads of migration
|a crossroads of languages
|a crossroads region
Temi
culture
|history
|society
|education
Esempi
- For centuries the city was a crossroads of trade and culture.
- The port became a crossroads where languages and customs mixed.
- The festival celebrates the region as a crossroads of musical traditions.
Esempi per chi studia
- The city is a crossroads of cultures.
Sostantivo
B2
entity
4
small settlement at an intersection
a small place where roads meet
Schema d'uso:
a crossroads; at the crossroads
Errore comune:
This sense is more common in rural descriptions; in cities, 'intersection' is usually preferred.
Sinonimi
hamlet (A very small village; not necessarily at a road intersection.)
|
village (Often larger; does not specifically indicate roads crossing.)
Contrari
city (Much larger settlement, not defined by a single junction.)
Collocazioni
a tiny crossroads
|a sleepy crossroads
|a crossroads village
|a store at the crossroads
|a church at the crossroads
|a pub at the crossroads
|a farmhouse near the crossroads
|a crossroads community
|a crossroads town
|out at the crossroads
Temi
places
|travel
Esempi
- They lived in a crossroads with a post office and one grocery store.
- We stopped overnight at a crossroads on the old highway.
- A single gas station marked the crossroads.
Esempi per chi studia
- There is a shop at the crossroads.
Grammatica
Forma base
crossroads
IPA
GB/kɹˈɔsɹˌoʊdz/
US/kɹˈɔsɹˌoʊdz/
Sillabe e accento
cross - roads (2 sillabe)
Stress on 1st syllable (cross)
Forme flesse
Noun
- Base: crossroads
- Plural: crossroads
Famiglia di parole
Espressioni
a crossroads of
1/ə kɹˈɔsɹˌoʊdz əv/
fixed phrase
place where influences meet
a place where different things meet
Esempi
- The island has long been a crossroads of cultures.
- The university is a crossroads of ideas from around the world.
- The region became a crossroads of trade between north and south.
at a crossroads
1/ˈæt ə kɹˈɔsɹˌoʊdz/
idiom
needing to choose a direction
having to make an important choice
Esempi
- I’m at a crossroads and I don’t know which job to take.
- The project is at a crossroads after the funding was cut.
- She knew she was at a crossroads when she moved to a new country.
reach a crossroads
1/ɹˈit͡ʃ ə kɹˈɔsɹˌoʊdz/
fixed phrase
arrive at a decision point
to come to a time when you must choose
Esempi
- We’ve reached a crossroads: either invest more or shut the project down.
- After ten years in the role, he reached a crossroads in his career.
- The talks reached a crossroads when neither side would compromise.
stand at a crossroads
1/stˈænd ˈæt ə kɹˈɔsɹˌoʊdz/
fixed phrase
be at a turning point
to be at an important moment of choice
Esempi
- The country stands at a crossroads after the election.
- The industry stands at a crossroads as new technology takes over.
- She felt she stood at a crossroads, unsure which path to follow.