Traditional hot rod damaged old cross
I believe the answer is:
orthodox
'traditional' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'hot rod damaged old cross' is the wordplay.
'damaged' indicates anagramming the letters.
'old' becomes 'o' (common abbreviation eg in OE for Old English).
'cross' becomes 'x' (X is cross-shaped).
'hot'+'rod'='hotrod'
'hotrod' is an anagram of 'orthod'.
'orthod'+'o'+'x'='ORTHODOX'
(Other definitions for orthodox that I've seen before include "Standard" , "Adhering to what is commonly accepted" , "Conforming with established opinions" , "Conforming with established doctrine" , "Conforming to the accepted beliefs of a religion" .)