cross section
noun
1
a
: a cutting or piece of something cut off at right angles to an axis
also
: a representation of such a cutting
b
2
: a measure of the probability of an encounter between particles such as will result in a specified effect (such as scattering or capture)
3
: a composite representation typifying the constituents of a thing in their relations
cross-section
transitive verb
Examples of cross section in a Sentence
a detailed cross section of the human brain
The drawing showed the human brain in cross section.
The class surveyed a cross section of the student body.
The people in our neighborhood are a representative cross section of American society.
Recent Examples on the Web
Their frequent festival shows come closer: The audience for those tends to be a remarkable cross section of scenes, the E.D.M. kids and hip-hop heads rubbing shoulders with the psych-rock freaks.
—
Ryan Bradley MacLeod Andrews Emma Kehlbeck Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
In May 2023, the FHFA requested public comment on the matter, and to peruse the responses is to glimpse a cross section of the American renter’s anguish.
—Mya Frazier, Harper's Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024
Detection range goes with the fourth root of radar cross section, so a tenfold reduction in radar cross section means an aircraft that could be detected ten miles away will only be seen six miles away.
—David Hambling, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023
The Times asked more than 75 community organizations and individuals to help distribute the survey through social media and email in an effort to reach a wide cross section of the Middle Eastern and North African population in the United States.
—Denise Lu, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2024
The camera, in its ambitious hurry to capture a wide cross section of people and cultures, rarely slows down to observe the doubts or convictions of any one of them.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Feb. 2024
Those findings were announced in an annual analysis of shelter populations compiled by Shelter Animal Counts, a nonprofit founded by a cross section of animal welfare agencies.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2024
This included recreating a cross section of a tree with nooks so kids can sit and wait for their appointments inside the tree replica.
—Georgann Yara, The Arizona Republic, 25 Jan. 2024
But unlike with the impressions, which are essentially the outline of an animal pressed into stone, the researchers were able to assess the cross section of their most notable fossil and identify layers and detail that would’ve otherwise been unknowable.
—Popular Science, 11 Jan. 2024
Ryan Bradley MacLeod Andrews Emma Kehlbeck Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
In May 2023, the FHFA requested public comment on the matter, and to peruse the responses is to glimpse a cross section of the American renter’s anguish.
—Mya Frazier, Harper's Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024
Detection range goes with the fourth root of radar cross section, so a tenfold reduction in radar cross section means an aircraft that could be detected ten miles away will only be seen six miles away.
—David Hambling, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023
The Times asked more than 75 community organizations and individuals to help distribute the survey through social media and email in an effort to reach a wide cross section of the Middle Eastern and North African population in the United States.
—Denise Lu, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2024
The camera, in its ambitious hurry to capture a wide cross section of people and cultures, rarely slows down to observe the doubts or convictions of any one of them.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Feb. 2024
Those findings were announced in an annual analysis of shelter populations compiled by Shelter Animal Counts, a nonprofit founded by a cross section of animal welfare agencies.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2024
This included recreating a cross section of a tree with nooks so kids can sit and wait for their appointments inside the tree replica.
—Georgann Yara, The Arizona Republic, 25 Jan. 2024
But unlike with the impressions, which are essentially the outline of an animal pressed into stone, the researchers were able to assess the cross section of their most notable fossil and identify layers and detail that would’ve otherwise been unknowable.
—Popular Science, 11 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cross section.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near cross section
Cite this Entry
“Cross section.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cross%20section. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
cross section
noun
: a cutting or piece of something cut off at right angles to an axis
also
: a representation of such a cutting
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