intercross
Definition
Verb:
- To cross (something) with another: "intercross" means to interbreed or cause to interbreed, especially between different varieties, breeds, or species.
- To intersect or cross each other: It can also describe things that lie or pass across each other, such as lines or streets.
Noun:
- The act or result of interbreeding: "intercross" refers to a hybrid or the offspring produced by crossing different varieties or species.
- A crossing or intersection: In a physical sense, it can mean a place where things cross one another.
Usage Examples
Verb:
- Farmers often intercross different strains of wheat to create a more resilient crop. (They breed one strain with another to combine traits.)
- The two paths intercross in the middle of the forest. (The paths cross each other at that point.)
Noun:
- The intercross of the two dog breeds produced a healthy litter. (The result of breeding the two breeds together.)
- The map showed an intercross of several major roads. (The intersection where the roads crossed.)
Advanced Usage
"to intercross with": to breed or mix with another variety.
- The wildflower began to intercross with the cultivated species in the garden. (The wildflower hybridised with the cultivated one.)
"intercrossing lines": lines that intersect or cross each other.
- The intercrossing lines on the graph represent different data sets. (The lines cross over one another on the chart.)
Variants and Related Words
- Intercrossing (n/adj): the act of crossing or intersecting; also describes things that cross.
- Intercrossing of species can lead to new genetic variations. (The process of breeding across species.)
- The intercrossing paths made navigation difficult. (The paths that crossed each other.)
Synonyms
- Hybridise: to produce a hybrid by crossing different varieties.
- Intersect: to cross or meet at a point.
- Crossbreed: to breed (an animal or plant) with another of a different variety.
Related Idioms