¹crusade

noun cru·sade \krü-ˈsād\

Crusade : any one of the wars that European Christian countries fought against Muslims in Palestine in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries

: a major effort to change something

Full Definition of CRUSADE

capitalized : any of the military expeditions undertaken by Christian powers in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries to win the Holy Land from the Muslims

: a remedial enterprise undertaken with zeal and enthusiasm

See crusade defined for English-language learners

See crusade defined for kids

Origin of CRUSADE

blend of Middle French croisade & Spanish cruzada; both ultimately from Latin cruc-, crux cross

First Known Use: circa 1708

Related to CRUSADE

Synonyms: bandwagon, blitz, cause, campaign, drive, juggernaut, movement, push

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

Rhymes with CRUSADE

abrade, afraid, air raid, arcade, Band-Aid, barmaid, Belgrade, blockade, bondmaid, bridesmaid, brigade, brocade, cascade, charade, clichéd, cockade, corrade, cross-trade, decade, degrade, dissuade, downgrade, evade, eyeshade, fair-trade, first aid, glissade, grenade, handmade, homemade, housemaid, inlaid, invade, limeade, low-grade, man-made, mermaid, milkmaid, navaid, nightshade, nursemaid, old maid, parade, persuade, pervade, plain-laid, pomade, postpaid, sacheted, scalade, sea-maid, self-made, stockade, sunshade, switchblade, torsade, twayblade, twice-laid, unbraid, unlade, unmade, unpaid, upbraid, upgrade

²crusade

verb

: to take part in a major effort to change something

cru·sad·edcru·sad·ing

Full Definition of CRUSADE

intransitive verb

: to engage in a crusade

— cru·sad·er noun

See crusade defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of CRUSADE

1732

CRUSADE Defined for Kids

¹crusade

noun cru·sade \krü-ˈsād\

Definition of CRUSADE for Kids

cap : one of the military expeditions made by Christian countries in the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth centuries to recover the Holy Land from the Muslims

: a campaign to get things changed for the better <a crusade against litter>