kreuze

Kreuze is the plural of the German noun Kreuz, meaning cross. The term covers a range of shapes and uses that share the basic idea of two intersecting lines or arms radiating from a central point. In common usage, Kreuze can refer to religious symbols, heraldic motifs, and various symbol shapes in everyday life.

In religion, the cross is a central symbol in Christianity, representing the crucifixion and redemption. The most familiar forms are the Latin cross, the Greek cross (arms of equal length), the tau cross, and the Celtic cross. Crosses appear on churches, grave markers, jewelry, and liturgical objects, and they are used in processions and commemorative monuments.

In heraldry and vexillology, crosses are frequent charges and motifs on coats of arms and flags. Varieties include the cross patée, cross potent, cross fleury, cross moline, and crosses that are voided or engrailed. Flags often feature crosses; for example, the Nordic cross is offset to reflect heraldic tradition, and the Swiss flag is characterized by a bold cross.

Beyond religious and symbolic contexts, the cross occurs in mathematics and geometry as a sign for the multiplication operation (often the "times" symbol) or as the cross product in vector algebra. In geography and cartography, a cross may mark a point of interest, a crossroads, or a survey point.

Overall, kreuze denotes multiple cross-shaped forms that appear across cultures, disciplines, and visual designs, reflecting both symbolic meaning and practical function.