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
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
cross-sectional adjective

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 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 This smart shaping gives the F-35 has a radar cross section (the standard measurement of stealth) of .0015 square metres, similar to a metal golf ball. David Hambling, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023 Like tree trunks, the cross sections contained annual growth rings, which were deposited as the dinosaurs developed. Jack Tamisiea, Discover Magazine, 12 Dec. 2023

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.

Word History

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of cross section was in 1835

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 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cross section

noun
1
a
: a cutting made across something (as a log or an apple)
b
: a representation of a cross section
a cross section of a blood vessel
2
: a number of persons or things selected from a group to stand for the whole
cross-sectional
ˈkrȯs-ˈsek-sh(ə-)nəl
adjective

Medical 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
cross-sectional adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on cross section

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