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Glite Dictionary
zebra crossing

zebra crossing

1 2.1
A place on the road with wide white stripes where people walking can cross and cars must stop
  • noun
  • /ˈziːbrə ˈkrɔsɪŋ/
  • UK
translation icon : paso de cebra
  • Pedestrians have the right of way when crossing at a zebra crossing marked with white stripes.

Examples

  • The CTC themselves state how this can be achieved: by placing the cycle track on the same raised table as the zebra crossings.

    Blog text (13)

  • But once the dust has settled and the Met stops a cyclist from riding over the zebras, TfL will say, "Sorry we didn't realize, we'll look into it," and we'll be pushing our bikes over the zebra crossings for the next five years while we wait to hear back.

    Blog text (13)

  • Executes a nifty maneuver, swerves on a zebra crossing, scatters pedestrians, honking his horn.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • I firmly believe the best way to know a city is to encounter it on foot, and as long as one isn't killed by some maniac driver at a zebra crossing, Shanghai is wonderful for walking—big streets, small streets, branch roads, and alleys.

    Blog text (26)

  • Always stop for people using the zebra crossing; it's their turn to walk safely.

  • She carefully looked both ways before stepping onto the zebra crossing to ensure no cars were coming.

Synonyms

crosswalk
vszebra crossing
  • US
21 1.0

A marked part of a road where people cross safely

focuses on places with explicit right of way marked by broad white bands
pedestrian crossing
vszebra crossing
  • UK
1 1.3

A marked place on a road where drivers must stop for people to cross

is the specific striped form marked by broad white bands

How Safe

crossing guard
  • US
5 2.5
zebra crossing
  • UK
1 2.1

Surface Forms

zebra crossing singular
zebra crossings plural

Morphology

zebra + crossing

The meaning is directly inferable from the constituents: 'zebra' evokes the characteristic stripes and 'crossing' denotes a place to cross, so a learner can deduce it refers to a crossing marked with zebra-like stripes. This is a regular noun–noun composition in English and therefore immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner who knows both words (though specific legal details like right-of-way may need classroom or contextual explanation).

Etymology

The name zebra crossing comes from the black and white stripes painted on the road that look like a zebra. Those stripes mark a clear crossing where people can walk across the road and cars must stop, so the name helps you remember its meaning.