Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for cross section

cross section

1

[ kraws sek-shuhn, kros ]

noun

  1. a section made by a plane cutting anything transversely, especially at right angles to the longest axis.
  2. a piece so cut off.
  3. a photograph, diagram, or other pictorial representation of such a section.
  4. the act of cutting anything across.
  5. a typical selection; a sample showing all characteristic parts, relationships, etc.:

    a cross section of American opinion.

  6. Surveying. a vertical section of the ground surface taken at right angles to a survey line.
  7. Also called nuclear cross section. Physics. a quantity expressing the effective area that a given nucleus presents as a target to a bombarding particle, giving a measure of the probability that the particle will induce a reaction.


cross-section

2

[ kraws-sek-shuhn, kros- ]

adjective

  1. Also cross-sectional. of or relating to a cross section.

verb (used with object)

  1. to make or divide into a cross section.

cross section

noun

  1. maths a plane surface formed by cutting across a solid, esp perpendicular to its longest axis
  2. a section cut off in this way
  3. the act of cutting anything in this way
  4. a random selection or sample, esp one regarded as representative

    a cross section of the public

  5. surveying a vertical section of a line of ground at right angles to a survey line
  6. physics a measure of the probability that a collision process will result in a particular reaction. It is expressed by the effective area that one participant presents as a target for the other


cross section

  1. In particle physics, an expression of the probability of the occurrence of an event, typically the scattering of subatomic particles, over a given area.


Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˌcross-ˈsectional, adjective

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of cross section1

First recorded in 1825–35

Origin of cross section2

First recorded in 1875–80

Discover More

Example Sentences

A sample sliced from that Mars cake would give a cross section of millions of years of lake deposits, providing scientists with a window into how the lake changed over time—and whether life ever emerged there.

The number of messages I received from such a vast cross section of people confirms that.

From Time

The fresher the powder, the more vibrant the green-and-purple cross section of cake you’ll get.

From Eater

It’s going to harm a wide cross section of voters, but it’s going to disproportionately impact voters of color.

From Time

My hair did not show up, leaving just the skull and outline of the face with a cross section of the tissues inside.

This wide cross-section of “good people” who took time out of their day to speak out was truly moving.

In The Explorer Gene, science writer Tom Cheshire presents a fascinating cross-section of Piccard family history.

The show presents a cross-section of works that blur the line between the humorous and absurd.

“I just want the work to reach as large a cross-section of people as possible,” Montgomery said.

Cotton has, after all, already shown an ability to appeal to a broad cross-section of his fractured party.

In cross-section the burrows varied from round (three inches in diameter) to oval (three inches high and four inches wide).

In any case, though the exact form of cross section of girders varies very much, it is virtually an I section (fig. 15).

The Fatal Dowry is not an Aristotelian tragedy with a definite beginning, middle, and endit is rather a cross-section of life.

In order to get headroom there is 'trunk' 'rise' on the deck, as shown on the cross-section drawing, 18 in.

The sides of the tank are riveted to a vertical angle iron, the cross section of which is clearly shown in the plan.

Advertisement

Related Words

Word of the Day

tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

Meaning and examples

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


cross seacross-sell