cross section
A 'cross section' reveals internal structures or characteristics of objects, populations, or phenomena by cutting or sampling at right angles to an axis or at a specific point in time.
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Definition
B2Geometry
(technical)The shape or area obtained when a solid object is cut by a plane, typically at right angles to its axis.
Example
- The cross section of a cylinder cut parallel to its base is a circle.
C1Physics
(technical, academic)The measure of the probability of a specific interaction or reaction between particles.
Example
- The cross section for this nuclear reaction is extremely small.
B2Statistics
(academic)A sample that represents the characteristics of a larger population at a specific point in time.
Example
- The survey provided a cross section of the community's opinions.
B2Engineering
(technical)A view or representation of an object's internal components, obtained by cutting or slicing through the object perpendicular to its longest axis.
Example
- The cross section of the bridge showed the internal support structures.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "cross section":