The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

cross-examination \cross"-ex*am`i*na"tion\
   (kr?s"?gz-?m`?-n?"sh?n; 115), n. (Law)
   The interrogating or questioning of a witness by the party
   against whom he has been called and examined. See
   Examination.
   [1913 Webster]

   2. [fig.] close or detailed questioning.
      [WordNet 1.5]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Examination \Ex*am`i*na"tion\, n. [L. examinatio: cf. F.
   examination.]
   1. The act of examining, or state of being examined; a
      careful search, investigation, or inquiry; scrutiny by
      study or experiment.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A process prescribed or assigned for testing
      qualification; as, the examination of a student, or of a
      candidate for admission to the bar or the ministry.
      [1913 Webster]

            He neglected the studies, . . . stood low at the
            examinations.                         --Macaulay.
      [1913 Webster]

   Examination in chief, or Direct examination (Law), that
      examination which is made of a witness by a party calling
      him.

   Cross-examination, that made by the opposite party.

   Re["e]xamination, or Re-direct examination, (Law) that
      questioning of a witness at trial made by the party
      calling the witness, after, and upon matters arising out
      of, the cross-examination; also called informally
      re-direct.

   Syn: Search; inquiry; investigation; research; scrutiny;
        inquisition; inspection; exploration.
        [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

cross-examination
    n 1: (law) close questioning of a hostile witness in a court of
         law to discredit or throw a new light on the testimony
         already provided in direct examination