cross section

cross section

noun

Definition of CROSS SECTION

1

a : a cutting or piece of something cut off at right angles to an axis; also : a representation of such a cutting

b : section 3b

2

: a measure of the probability of an encounter between particles such as will result in a specified effect (as scattering or capture)

3

: a composite representation typifying the constituents of a thing in their relations

— cross–section transitive verb

— cross–sec·tion·al \ˈkrȯs-ˈsek-shnəl, -shə-n^əl\ adjective

Examples of CROSS SECTION

1. a detailed cross section of the human brain
2. The drawing showed the human brain in cross section.
3. The class surveyed a cross section of the student body.
4. The people in our neighborhood are a representative cross section of American society.

First Known Use of CROSS SECTION

1835

Related to CROSS SECTION

Synonyms

sample, sampler, sampling, selection, slice

Related Words

case, example, exemplar, exemplification, illustration, instance, representative, specimen; archetype, classic, locus classicus, paradigm, prototype; microcosm

Rhymes with CROSS SECTION

abjection, advection, affection, bisection, collection, complexion, confection, connection, convection, correction, C-section, defection, deflection, dejection, detection, direction, ejection, election, erection, infection, inflection, injection, inspection, midsection, objection, perfection, prelection, projection, protection, refection, reflection, rejection, resection, selection, subjection, subsection, trajection, transection, trisection

cross section

noun    (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of CROSS SECTION

: a cutting or piece of something cut off at right angles to an axis; also : a representation of such a cutting

—cross–sec·tion·al \ˌkrȯ(s)-ˈsek-shnəl, -shən-^əl\ (audio pronunciation) adjective

cross section

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In nuclear physics, a measure of the probability that a given atomic nucleus will exhibit a specific reaction (absorption, scattering, or nuclear fission) in relation to a particular incident particle. Cross section is expressed in terms of area, and its value is chosen so that, if the bombarding particle hits a circular target of this size perpendicular to its path and centred at the nucleus, the given reaction occurs. If it misses the area, the reaction does not occur. The unit of cross section is the barn, which equals 10²⁴ sq cm. Cross-section values for a given nucleus depend on the energy of the bombarding particle and the kind of reaction and are often different from the actual cross-sectional area of the nucleus.