1A current in a river or sea which flows across another.
（河或海中的）交叉水流
she watched the launches bounce into the choppy cross-current
Example sentencesExamples
The trick once down was to keep an eye on bubbles and fish behaviour for telltale signs of cross-currents and whirlpools.
In any case two days campaigning for the second round does seem to be a very short time, with large numbers of MP's switching their support like strong cross-currents in an ocean.
The water level continued to rise, and swift cross-currents developed.
The pictures showed that when the water reached a certain speed, it began to break into eddies, waves and cross-currents.
Obviously you get caught in cross-currents both ways.
Anchors are installed on both sides of the roadway to maintain its position in cross-currents and tide changes.
2A situation or tendency marked by conflict with another.
〈喻〉矛盾（倾向）；对立（倾向）
strong cross-currents of debate
辩论的激烈对抗。
Example sentencesExamples
Major art often flourishes on the fault lines between civilizations, fed by complex cross-currents between one form of life and another.
A new official version of events was needed to steer the state through the historical cross-currents flowing across the border as everyone went back to their history books.
There are many, many cross-currents in this discussion of illegal immigration.
The narrative momentum is maintained by a flowing rhythm, without analytical undertow or plotting cross-currents that could impede the inevitable, although not predictable, conclusion.
What is certain, however, is that it revealed many cross-currents and counter-currents within the political parties.
These cross-currents appear to have left the foreign exchange market in a state of tenuous equilibrium.
The artist achieved a powerful expression of the social cross-currents of the time.
There are today, however, newfound cross-currents and ambiguities.
There's something studied and strained about the piece, almost too self-conscious in its push-pull of cross-currents.
The cross-currents of various conversations seem to be swirling around me.
But before we get too carried away, it is worth noting that we are expecting some strong cross-currents over the coming months.
This is going to be a strange one, with lots of cross-currents flowing in zany directions.
In all these cross-currents of presidential theory, there is one more theme - so apparent though unstated.
Nonetheless, the economy continues to be buffeted by strong cross-currents.
There are always cross-currents and enclaves, deviances or doublings back from what appears to be the main path.
Things are sure challenging and interesting, with cross-currents galore.
The tax controversy is but one example of how national cross-currents induce a federalist drift.
He was a deeply analytical guy, but inside of that were all the cross-currents of a chaotic life.
They also tend to get caught in the cross-currents of regulation.
She said there are all kinds of cross-currents of laws in this country.