cross section
a section made by a plane cutting anything transversely, especially at right angles to the longest axis.
a piece so cut off.
a photograph, diagram, or other pictorial representation of such a section.
the act of cutting anything across.
a typical selection; a sample showing all characteristic parts, relationships, etc.: a cross section of American opinion.
Surveying. a vertical section of the ground surface taken at right angles to a survey line.
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.
Origin of cross section
1Other definitions for cross-section (2 of 2)
Also cross-sectional. of or relating to a cross section.
to make or divide into a cross section.
Origin of cross-section
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use cross section in a sentence
One barn is equal to 10-24 square centimeter, which is approximately the cross-sectional area of a typical atomic nucleus.
The Atomic Fingerprint | Bernard KeischWithin the same species the cross-sectional area of the sapwood is roughly proportional to the size of the crown of the tree.
The Mechanical Properties of Wood | Samuel J. RecordThe ends are roughly squared and the specimen weighed and measured, taking the cross-sectional dimensions midway of the length.
The Mechanical Properties of Wood | Samuel J. RecordThe shearing strength per square inch is found by dividing the maximum load by the cross-sectional area.
The Mechanical Properties of Wood | Samuel J. RecordThe cross-sectional areas of the two pistons are, on the other hand, directly proportional to the forces exerted by them.
Physics | Willis Eugene Tower
British Dictionary definitions for cross section
maths a plane surface formed by cutting across a solid, esp perpendicular to its longest axis
a section cut off in this way
the act of cutting anything in this way
a random selection or sample, esp one regarded as representative: a cross section of the public
surveying a vertical section of a line of ground at right angles to a survey line
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
Derived forms of cross section
- cross-sectional, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for cross section
In particle physics, an expression of the probability of the occurrence of an event, typically the scattering of subatomic particles, over a given area.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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