transverse

[ trans-vurs, tranz-; trans-vurs, tranz- ]

adjective

1. lying or extending across or in a cross direction; cross.
2. (of a flute) having a mouth hole in the side of the tube, near its end, across which the player's breath is directed. Compare end-blown.
3. (of an automotive engine) mounted with the crankshaft oriented sideways.

noun

1. something that is transverse.
2. Nautical. web frame.
3. Geometry. transverse axis.
4. a city road that cuts through a park or other area of light traffic; shortcut.

transverse

/ trænzˈvɜːs /

adjective

1. crossing from side to side; athwart; crossways
2. geometry denoting the axis that passes through the foci of a hyperbola
3. (of a flute, etc) held almost at right angles to the player's mouth, so that the breath passes over a hole in the side to create a vibrating air column within the tube of the instrument
4. See tangential
   astronomy another word for tangential

noun

1. a transverse piece or object

Derived Forms

• transˈverseness, noun
• transˈversely, adverb

Other Words From

• trans·versely adverb
• subtrans·verse adjective
• subtrans·versely adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of transverse¹

First recorded in 1610–20, transverse is from the Latin word trānsversus going or lying across, athwart. See traverse

Word History and Origins

Origin of transverse¹

C16: from Latin transversus , from transvertere to turn across, from trans- + vertere to turn

Example Sentences

If you can’t fully rotate your foot toward and away from the center of the body, along what’s known as the transverse plane, you may have balance problems while skiing.

From Outside Online

She taught these blobs to transverse salty patches of land by gradually filling them with sodium.

From Popular-Science

It has been reported that the volunteer, a woman, had developed serious neurological symptoms that might have been associated with transverse myelitis, an inflammation of the spinal cord that can be caused by an immune response.

From Fortune

AstraZeneca CEO announced later in the week that the patient in the trial likely had transverse myelitis, a condition that involves inflammation of the spinal cord and can, in rare cases, be triggered by vaccines or viral infections.

From Popular-Science

Soriot said it wasn’t clear whether the participant had a condition called transverse myelitis, a suspected diagnosis.

From Fortune

The second pair show that the transverse processes, from the first to the third, are those into which the muscle is inserted.

From Project Gutenberg

The figures, besides being outlined by the dots, were decorated all over with the same pigment in dotted transverse belts.

From Project Gutenberg

Sir Thomas de la Moore mentions long transverse trenches, similarly covered so as to bear men aware of them, but not horses.

From Project Gutenberg

On this black border is a transverse row of four or five white spots, unequal in size.

From Project Gutenberg

Testa ovato-oblonga valde tumida clausa radiatim costata, costis transverse costato-striatis, auriculis minutis, margine crenato.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• across
• cross
• transversal