Cross vs. Crucifix — What's the Difference?

To move from one side to another.

An object for meditation and devotion.

To oppose or contradict.

An object symbolizing the crucifixion of Christ.

A symbol of Christianity.

A common symbol in Catholic and Orthodox Christianity.

An intersection or hybrid.

An artistic representation of Jesus on the cross.

A shape formed by two intersecting lines or bars.

A cross with a representation of Jesus on it.

A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two intersecting lines or bars, usually perpendicular to each other. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally.

A crucifix (from Latin cruci fixus meaning "(one) fixed to a cross") is an image of Jesus on the cross, as distinct from a bare cross. The representation of Jesus himself on the cross is referred to in English as the corpus (Latin for "body").The crucifix is a principal symbol for many groups of Christians, and one of the most common forms of the Crucifixion in the arts.

A mark, object, or figure formed by two short intersecting lines or pieces (+ or ×)

An image or figure of Jesus on the cross.

An upright post with a transverse bar, as used in antiquity for crucifixion.

A cross viewed as a symbol of Jesus's crucifixion.

An animal or plant resulting from cross-breeding; a hybrid

A wooden cross used for crucifixions, as by the Romans. Category:en:Capital punishment

A pass of the ball across the field towards the centre close to one's opponents' goal

An ornamental or symbolic sculptural representation of Christ on a cross, often worn as a pendant or displayed in a Christian church.

Go or extend across or to the other side of (an area, stretch of water, etc.)

(gymnastics) The iron cross, a position on the rings where the gymnast holds the rings straight out on either side of the body.

Pass in an opposite or different direction; intersect

A representation in art of the figure of Christ upon the cross; esp., the sculptured figure affixed to a real cross of wood, ivory, metal, or the like, used by the Roman Catholics in their devotions.

Draw a line or lines across; mark with a cross

The cross or religion of Christ.

(of a person) make the sign of the cross in front of one's chest as a sign of Christian reverence or to invoke divine protection

Representation of the cross on which Jesus died

Pass (the ball) across the field towards the centre when attacking

A gymnastic exercise performed on the rings when the gymnast supports himself with both arms extended horizontally

Cause (an animal of one species, breed, or variety) to breed with one of another species, breed, or variety

Oppose or stand in the way of (someone)

Annoyed

An upright post with a transverse piece near the top, on which condemned persons were executed in ancient times.

Often Cross The cross upon which Jesus was crucified.

A crucifix.

Any of various modifications of the cross design, such as a Latin cross or Maltese cross.

A medal, emblem, or insignia in the form of a cross.

Cross The Christian religion; Christianity.

(Christianity) The sign of the cross.

A trial, affliction, or frustration.

A mark or pattern formed by the intersection of two lines, especially such a mark (X) used as a signature.

A movement from one place to another, as on a stage; a crossing.

A pipe fitting with four branches in upright and transverse form, used as a junction for intersecting pipes.

(Biology) A plant or animal produced by crossbreeding; a hybrid.

One that combines the qualities of two other things

A hook thrown over an opponent's punch in boxing.

A pass made into the center of the field to a player in position to score, especially in soccer.

(Law) An act or instance of cross-examining; a cross-examination.

The Southern Cross.

(Slang) A contest whose outcome has been dishonestly prearranged.

To go or extend across; pass from one side of to the other

To carry or conduct across something

To extend or pass through or over; intersect

(Sports) To propel (a ball or puck) as a cross, as in soccer.

To delete by drawing a line through

To eliminate or dismiss as unimportant or undesirable

To make or put a line across

To place crosswise one over the other

To make the sign of the cross upon or over as a sign of devotion or blessing.

To encounter in passing

To combine the qualities of two things

To interfere with; thwart or obstruct

To betray or deceive; double-cross. Often used with up.

(Biology) To crossbreed or cross-fertilize (plants or animals).

(Law) To cross-examine.

To lie or pass across each other; intersect.

To move or extend from one side to another

To make a crossing

To meet in passing; come into conjunction

To move or be conveyed in opposite directions at the same time

(Biology) To crossbreed or cross-fertilize.

Lying or passing crosswise; intersecting

Contrary or counter; opposing.

Showing ill humor; annoyed.

Involving interchange; reciprocal.

Crossbred; hybrid.

Crosswise.

Across.

A geometrical figure consisting of two straight lines or bars intersecting each other such that at least one of them is bisected by the other.

(heraldry) Any geometric figure having this or a similar shape, such as a cross of Lorraine or a Maltese cross.

A wooden post with a perpendicular beam attached and used (especially in the Roman Empire) to execute criminals (by crucifixion).

(Christianity) Usually with the: the cross on which Christ was crucified.

(Christianity) A hand gesture made in imitation of the shape of the Cross.

(Christianity) A modified representation of the crucifixion stake, worn as jewellery or displayed as a symbol of religious devotion.

(figurative, from Christ's bearing of the cross) A difficult situation that must be endured.

The act of going across; the act of passing from one side to the other

(biology) An animal or plant produced by crossbreeding or cross-fertilization.

(by extension) A hybrid of any kind.

(boxing) A hook thrown over the opponent's punch.

(football) A pass in which the ball is kicked from a side of the pitch to a position close to the opponent’s goal.

A place where roads intersect and lead off in four directions; a crossroad (common in UK and Irish place names such as Gerrards Cross).

A monument that marks such a place. (Also common in UK or Irish place names such as Charing Cross)

(obsolete) A coin stamped with the figure of a cross, or that side of such a piece on which the cross is stamped; hence, money in general.

Church lands.

A line drawn across or through another line.

(surveying) An instrument for laying of offsets perpendicular to the main course.

A pipe-fitting with four branches whose axes usually form a right angle.

(Rubik's Cube) Four edge cubies of one side that are in their right places, forming the shape of a cross.

(cartomancy) The thirty-sixth Lenormand card.

(slang) crossfire.

Transverse; lying across the main direction.

(archaic) Opposite, opposed to.

Opposing, adverse; being contrary to what one would hope or wish for.

Bad-tempered, angry, annoyed.

Made in an opposite direction, or an inverse relation; mutually inverse; interchanged.

(nautical) Of the sea, having two wave systems traveling at oblique angles, due to the wind over shifting direction or the waves of two storm systems meeting.

(archaic) across

Cross product of the previous vector and the following vector.

To make or form a cross.

To place across or athwart; to cause to intersect.

To lay or draw something across, such as a line.

To mark with an X.

To write lines of text at right angles to and over the top of one another in order to save paper.^W

To make the sign of the cross over oneself.

(transitive) To make the sign of the cross over (something or someone).

To move relatively.

(transitive) To go from one side of (something) to the other.

(intransitive) To travel in a direction or path that will intersect with that of another.

(transitive) To pass, as objects going in an opposite direction at the same time.

(sports) Relative movement by a player or of players.

(social) To oppose.

(transitive) To contradict (another) or frustrate the plans of.

To interfere and cut off ; to debar.

(legal) To conduct a cross examination; to question a hostile witness.

(biology) To cross-fertilize or crossbreed.

(transitive) To stamp or mark (a cheque) in such a way as to prevent it being cashed, thus requiring it to be deposited into a bank account.

A gibbet, consisting of two pieces of timber placed transversely upon one another, in various forms, as a T, or +, with the horizontal piece below the upper end of the upright, or as an X. It was anciently used in the execution of criminals.

The sign or mark of the cross, made with the finger, or in ink, etc., or actually represented in some material; the symbol of Christ's death; the ensign and chosen symbol of Christianity, of a Christian people, and of Christendom.

Affiction regarded as a test of patience or virtue; trial; disappointment; opposition; misfortune.

A piece of money stamped with the figure of a cross, also, that side of such a piece on which the cross is stamped; hence, money in general.

An appendage or ornament or anything in the form of a cross; a badge or ornamental device of the general shape of a cross; hence, such an ornament, even when varying considerably from that form; thus, the Cross of the British Order of St. George and St. Michael consists of a central medallion with seven arms radiating from it.

A monument in the form of a cross, or surmounted by a cross, set up in a public place; as, a market cross; a boundary cross; Charing Cross in London.

A common heraldic bearing, of which there are many varieties. See the Illustration, above.

The crosslike mark or symbol used instead of a signature by those unable to write.

Church lands.

A line drawn across or through another line.

A mixing of breeds or stock, especially in cattle breeding; or the product of such intermixture; a hybrid of any kind.

An instrument for laying of offsets perpendicular to the main course.

A pipe-fitting with four branches the axes of which usually form's right angle.

Not parallel; lying or falling athwart; transverse; oblique; intersecting.

Not accordant with what is wished or expected; interrupting; adverse; contrary; thwarting; perverse.

Characterized by, or in a state of, peevishness, fretfulness, or ill humor; as, a cross man or woman.

Made in an opposite direction, or an inverse relation; mutually inverse; interchanged; as, cross interrogatories; cross marriages, as when a brother and sister marry persons standing in the same relation to each other.

Athwart; across.

To put across or athwart; to cause to intersect; as, to cross the arms.

To lay or draw something, as a line, across; as, to cross the letter t.

To pass from one side to the other of; to pass or move over; to traverse; as, to cross a stream.

To pass, as objects going in an opposite direction at the same time.

To run counter to; to thwart; to obstruct; to hinder; to clash or interfere with.

To interfere and cut off; to debar.

To make the sign of the cross upon; - followed by the reflexive pronoun; as, he crossed himself.

To cancel by marking crosses on or over, or drawing a line across; to erase; - usually with out, off, or over; as, to cross out a name.

To cause to interbreed; - said of different stocks or races; to mix the breed of.

To lie or be athwart.

To move or pass from one side to the other, or from place to place; to make a transit; as, to cross from New York to Liverpool.

To be inconsistent.

To interbreed, as races; to mix distinct breeds.

A wooden structure consisting of an upright post with a transverse piece

Marking consisting of crossing lines

A cross as an emblem of Christianity; used in heraldry

Any affliction that causes great suffering;

An organism that is the offspring of genetically dissimilar parents or stock; especially offspring produced by breeding plants or animals of different varieties or breeds or species;

(genetics) the act of mixing different species or varieties of animals or plants and thus to produce hybrids

Travel across or pass over;

Meet at a point

Hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of;

Fold so as to resemble a cross;

To cover or extend over an area or time period;

Meet and pass;

Trace a line through or across;

Breed animals or plants using parents of different races and varieties;

Extending or lying across; in a crosswise direction; at right angles to the long axis;

Perversely irritable

Yes, many people wear crucifixes as necklaces or other jewelry to express their faith.

Most Protestant churches prefer the plain cross, focusing on the resurrection rather than the crucifixion.

Yes, the cross shape appears in various non-Christian contexts, like architecture and heraldry.

A cross is a simple intersecting shape, while a crucifix includes a depiction of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Crucifixes are mainly used in Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.

A crucifix serves as a reminder of Jesus' sacrifice and is often used in prayer, devotion, and rituals.

Some prefer a cross for its simplicity or broader symbolism, while others feel more connected to a crucifix.

Crucifixes range from simple representations to very detailed ones depicting Jesus.

Yes, a cross symbolizes Christianity and resurrection, while a crucifix emphasizes Jesus' suffering and sacrifice.

Yes, the preference for crosses or crucifixes often aligns with specific religious or cultural traditions.

Crosses are often placed at the altar or as decorations, while crucifixes commonly serve as focal points for worship.

Crosses are popular during Easter, symbolizing resurrection, while crucifixes are central in Lent to reflect Jesus' suffering.

It serves as a profound symbol of Jesus’ sacrifice and is integral to Catholic devotion.

Yes, many crucifixes are crafted with artistic detail and can serve as art pieces.

They vary based on historical period and region, from simple to highly ornate designs.