cruzada
“cruzada” means “crusade” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
crusade
Also: campaign, quest
📝 In Action
El gobierno ha iniciado una cruzada contra la corrupción.
B2The government has started a crusade against corruption.
Los caballeros partieron hacia la primera cruzada en el siglo XI.
B2The knights left for the first crusade in the 11th century.
Su vida es una cruzada constante por los derechos de los animales.
C1Her life is a constant quest for animal rights.
crossed, double-breasted
Also: cross-bred
📝 In Action
Ella me esperaba con los brazos en jarras y una pierna cruzada.
B1She was waiting for me with arms akimbo and one leg crossed.
Me compré una chaqueta cruzada muy elegante.
B2I bought a very elegant double-breasted jacket.
La calle está cruzada por cables de luz.
A2The street is crossed by power lines.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: cruzada
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is a 'cruzada' in a social context?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Derived from the Spanish word 'cruz' (cross), which comes from the Latin 'crux'. It originally referred to the cross-shaped badges worn by soldiers in the religious wars of the Middle Ages.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'cruzada' the same as 'cruzar'?
Not exactly. 'Cruzar' is the action (to cross), while 'cruzada' is a noun (a crusade) or an adjective describing something that is already crossed.
Can I use 'cruzada' to mean a 'crossword puzzle'?
No. A crossword puzzle is called a 'crucigrama' in Spanish.
Why is it called 'Las Cruzadas' in history books?
Because the soldiers (Crusaders) wore a 'cruz' (cross) on their clothing as a symbol of their mission.