Definition

Noun: 1. A designated place on a road where pedestrians can cross safely: A pedestrian crossing is a specific area of a street, often marked with painted lines, signs, or lights, where people walking have the legal right to cross. Vehicles are typically required to stop or yield to pedestrians using it.

Usage

• The primary function is to indicate a safe, legal point for people to cross a road.
• It is used to describe the physical infrastructure (e.g., stripes, signs) and the legal rule associated with that location.
• It is a formal term for what is commonly called a "crosswalk."

Examples

• Noun:
  • Always use the pedestrian crossing when you need to get to the other side of the street.
  • The driver was fined for not stopping at the pedestrian crossing.
  • The new traffic lights include a signal for the pedestrian crossing.

Advanced Usage

• "Zebra crossing": A specific type of pedestrian crossing marked by alternating black and white stripes on the road, resembling a zebra's stripes. This term is common in British English.
  • In the UK, you must wait for pedestrians to step onto the zebra crossing before you proceed.
• "Pelican crossing" (UK) / "Pedestrian signal" (US): A type of pedestrian crossing controlled by traffic lights where pedestrians press a button to activate a "walk" signal.
  • Press the button at the pelican crossing and wait for the green man to appear.

Variants and Related Words

• Crosswalk (n): The most common synonym in American English for a pedestrian crossing.
  • Please cross at the crosswalk for your safety.
• Crossing (n): A more general term that can refer to any place where a road, path, or railway is crossed.
  • The school crossing is supervised by a guard.
• Pedestrian (n): A person who is walking, especially in an area where vehicles travel.
  • The pedestrian waited patiently for the light to change.

Synonyms

• Crosswalk: (Primarily US) A marked path for pedestrians to cross a street.
• Crossing point: A general term for a place designated for crossing.

Related Phrases

• "Yield to pedestrians": A traffic instruction meaning vehicles must allow pedestrians to go first.
  • The sign clearly says to yield to pedestrians in the crossing.
• "Marked crossing": A pedestrian crossing that is visibly indicated by paint, signs, or lights.
  • For safety, always choose a marked crossing over jaywalking.

Noun

1. street crossing where pedestrians have right of way; often marked in some way (especially with diagonal stripes)