Plain English Meaning

The steady part of the flight, after climbing to your chosen altitude and before starting down, where the airplane is flown level at a fixed power setting to travel toward the destination.

Full Definition

The phase of flight between climb and descent during which the airplane is flown at a relatively constant altitude, airspeed, and power setting to cover distance efficiently.

Context Anchor

You will see this term when learning how the airplane feels in steady, normal flight and when setting power after leveling off from a climb.

Derivation

From the Dutch 'kruisen,' meaning to cross or traverse. In aviation it carries the same sense: the part of the flight spent crossing distance, rather than climbing or descending.