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.

Derived Forms

• ˌcross-ˈsectional, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cross section¹

First recorded in 1825–35

Origin of cross section²

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• random sample
• sampling