Definition

1. Noun:
   • A long-distance running race held on a course that is not a track or paved road: "cross country" refers specifically to a competitive running event where participants race over natural terrain such as fields, woods, and hills, rather than on a standard track or paved surface.

Usage

• The term "cross country" is primarily used as a noun to describe the sport or a specific race event. It functions as a compound noun, often hyphenated (cross-country) when used as an adjective before another noun.

Examples

• Noun:
  • She won the state championship in cross country.
  • The cross country was held in a muddy park after the rain.
  • Training for cross country requires endurance and strength.

Advanced Usage

• "to run cross country": This phrase uses the term to describe the activity, often without a hyphen.
  • He runs cross country for his university team.

Variants and Related Words

• Cross-country (adjective): Used to describe anything related to the sport or to movement over open country.
  • A cross-country race (a race of the cross country type).
  • A cross-country skier (a skier who travels over open country, not on a prepared slope). Note: This is a related but distinct sport.
• Cross-country running (noun phrase): A fuller name for the sport.

Synonyms

• Long-distance race (over terrain): This is a descriptive synonym.
• Off-road running race: Emphasizes the non-paved nature of the course.

Related Phrases

• Cross-country course: The specific trail or route over which the race is run.
  • The cross-country course was very challenging this year.
• Cross-country team: A group of athletes who compete in this sport.
  • She is the captain of the cross-country team.

Notes

• The term "cross country" is distinct from "cross-country" used as an adjective for other modes of travel (e.g., cross-country flight, cross-country road trip), which generally means "from one side of a country to the other." In the context of sports, it specifically denotes racing over natural, open terrain.

Noun

1. a long race run over open country