–noun

1.	a natural stream of water of fairly large size flowing in a definite course or channel or series of diverging and converging channels.

2.	a similar stream of something other than water: a river of lava; a river of ice.

3.	any abundant stream or copious flow; outpouring: rivers of tears; rivers of words.

4.	(initial capital letter) Astronomy. the constellation Eridanus.

5.	Printing. a vertical channel of white space resulting from the alignment in several lines of spaces between words.

—Idioms

6.	sell down the river, to betray; desert; mislead: to sell one's friends down the river.

7.	up the river, Slang. a. to prison: to be sent up the river for a bank robbery. b. in prison: Thirty years up the river had made him a stranger to society.

–verb (used without object)

1.	to sail about on a pleasure trip.

2.	to sail about, as a warship patrolling a body of water.

3.	to travel about without a particular purpose or destination.

4.	to fly, drive, or sail at a constant speed that permits maximum operating efficiency for sustained travel.

5.	to travel at a moderately fast, easily controllable speed: cruising along the highway enjoying the scenery.

6.	to travel about slowly, looking for customers or for something demanding attention: Taxis and police cars cruise in the downtown area.

7.	to go or travel (often fol. by over): Let's cruise over to my house after the concert.

8.	Informal. to go about on the streets or in public areas in search of a sexual partner.

–verb (used with object 3e8 )

9.	to cruise in (a specified area): patrol cars cruising the neighborhood; to cruise the Caribbean.

10.	Informal. a. to move slowly through or visit (a street, park, bar, etc.) in search of a sexual partner. b. to make sexual overtures to; attempt to arouse the sexual interest of.

11.	to inspect (a tract of forest) for the purpose of estimating lumber potential.

–noun

12.	the act of cruising.

13.	a pleasure voyage on a ship, usually with stops at various ports.