Definition

Proper noun: 1. A city in central Bolivia: A populated place, specifically a city located in the central region of Bolivia. 2. A town in western California on Monterey Bay; a tourist center: A populated place, specifically a town on the central coast of California, USA, known for its location on Monterey Bay and as a destination for visitors.

Usage Examples

• Santa Cruz is the largest city in Bolivia. (Refers to the Bolivian city.)
• We spent the weekend surfing in Santa Cruz. (Refers to the Californian town.)
• The University of California has a campus in Santa Cruz. (Refers to the Californian town.)

Advanced Usage

• The name "Santa Cruz" is Spanish for "Holy Cross". Many places in the Spanish-speaking world and areas with Spanish colonial history bear this name.
• When used in an English context without additional qualifiers, it most commonly refers to the city in California due to its prominence in American culture. The Bolivian city is typically specified as "Santa Cruz, Bolivia".

Variants and Related Words

• Santa Cruz de la Sierra: The full official name of the city in Bolivia.
• Santa Cruz County: The county in California which contains the town of Santa Cruz.

Different Meanings / Other Places Named Santa Cruz

• Santa Cruz Islands: An island group in the Pacific Ocean, part of the Solomon Islands.
• Santa Cruz (other): The name is used for numerous other cities, towns, and geographical features around the world, including in Argentina, the Canary Islands (Spain), the Philippines, and Portugal. Context is essential for determining the specific location.

Noun

1. a city in central Bolivia
2. a town in western California on Monterey Bay; a tourist center