cruise - Definition & Meaning

cruise

Third Person

cruises

Present Participle

cruising

Past Tense

cruised

Past Participle

cruised

to go on vacation by a ship or boat

For their anniversary, the couple decided to cruise around the Caribbean.
Instead of the usual road trip, the family opted to cruise along the European coastline.
The retirees planned to cruise across the Mediterranean, visiting historical sites.
They cruised on a luxury liner with many activities.
The family decided to cruise instead of flying.

to wander about an area in a relaxed manner, often with the intention of finding interesting sights, experiences, or hidden gems

On lazy Sundays, they love to cruise through the quaint neighborhoods.
The birdwatchers spent the afternoon cruising along the riverbanks.
In the quiet hours of the morning, the photographer would cruise through the city's alleys.
Nature lovers often cruise through the botanical gardens, marveling at the diversity of plant life.
During the festival, visitors could cruise through the market stalls.

to travel at a consistent and efficient speed

The pilot instructed the airplane crew to cruise at a specific altitude and speed.
The ship captain directed the crew to cruise at a moderate speed once they reached open waters.
To conserve energy, the driver decided to cruise on the highway.
The cyclist adjusted the bike's gears to cruise on the flat terrain
The eco-conscious commuter preferred to cruise at a moderate speed on their scooter.

to seek a casual sexual encounter in a public place, typically between gay men

In queer slang, to cruise means to seek a casual sexual encounter in a public place, typically between men. The term became widely recognized in the mid-20th century, especially in urban gay communities, and is associated with specific locations such as parks, bars, or bathhouses. While cruising has been a discreet way for men to meet in times and places where homosexuality was criminalized, it is also celebrated in some circles as part of queer sexual culture.

He likes to cruise at the local club on weekends.
Everyone joked that she was cruising online for dates.
They used to cruise in parks before dating apps existed.
Some people still cruise discreetly in certain neighborhoods.
He likes to cruise downtown bars on Friday nights.

to win or achieve something with little or no effort

Despite tough competition, the experienced team managed to cruise to victory.
The seasoned chess player could strategically plan his moves, allowing him to cruise to success in the tournament.
Despite the formidable opponent, the chess grandmaster managed to cruise to championship.