cross-section
/'krɔs'sekʃn/
Definition
Noun:
- A surface or shape that is exposed by making a straight cut through something, especially at right angles to an axis: This is the primary geometric meaning, referring to the shape you see when you slice through an object.
- A representative sample of a larger group: This figurative meaning refers to a group that is typical of a whole population in terms of its characteristics or composition.
Adjective (Attributive use only):
- Representing a plane made by cutting across something at right angles to its length: Used to describe a view, diagram, or model that shows such an interior slice.
Usage Examples
Noun (Geometric):
- The diagram shows a cross-section of the human heart.
- Geologists study the rock's cross-section to understand its layers.
Noun (Representative Sample):
- The survey interviewed a cross-section of American voters.
- The audience was a broad cross-section of society.
Adjective:
- The textbook includes a cross-section diagram of a plant stem.
- We need a cross-section view to see the internal components.
Advanced Usage
- "in cross-section": When viewed or considered as if cut through.
- The fossil, seen in cross-section, revealed intricate cellular structures.
- Used in fields like statistics, sociology, and engineering to imply a snapshot or a typical slice of data or material at a specific point.
Variants and Related Words
- Cross-sectional (Adjective): Of or relating to a cross-section; involving a comparison across different groups at one point in time.
- The study used cross-sectional data from 2020.
Synonyms
- Profile (for the geometric sense, e.g., a side view or contour).
- Slice (for the geometric sense).
- Sample (for the representative group sense).
- Microcosm (for the representative group sense, implying a small, representative system).
Related Phrases
- Cross-section of opinion: A range of different views representative of a larger group.
- The committee sought a cross-section of opinion before making a decision.
Idioms
Adjective
-
representing a plane made by cutting across something at right angles to its length
-
cross-section views of the neck
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