'cross section' definitions:
Definition of 'cross section'
From: WordNet
noun
A section created by a plane cutting a solid perpendicular to its longest axis
noun
A sample meant to be representative of a whole population
noun
(physics) the probability that a particular interaction (as capture or ionization) will take place between particles; measured in barns
Definition of 'cross section'
From: GCIDE
- cross section \cross section\ n.
- 1. a flat plane cutting through a three-dimensional object, usually at right angles to the longest axis of the object. [PJC]
- 2. any visual representation of a cross section[1], showing the internal structure of the object in the plane of the cross section; as, the technician prepared a series of MRI cross sections of the skull.
- Note: Different cross sections created by different techniques may show different aspects of internal structure. Thus computerized axial tomography using X-rays shows different structures than are visualized by MRI. [PJC]
- 3. a thin slice of an object made by cutting it transversely; as, to view a cross section of a bacterium with an electron microscope after staining the DNA; cross sections were prepared with a microtome. [PJC]
- 4. a representative sample of a complex group; as, the town contained a cross section of the American population. [PJC]
- 5. (Physics) a measure of the probability that a nucleus will interact in a specified way with a bombarding particle, expressed as the effective area that the nucleus presents to the particle; -- called also nuclear cross section. [PJC]
Definition of 'cross section'
From: GCIDE
- cross section \cross section\ v. t. to create one or a series of cross sections[3] by cutting (an object) into thin slices. [PJC]
Synonyms of 'cross section'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- adjunct,
- chiasma,
- component,
- contingent,
- crossing,
- cruciation,
- decussation,
- detachment,
- detail,
- division,
- dole,
- embodiment,
- example,
- exponent,
- fraction,
- installment,
- intercrossing,
- intersecting,
- intersection,
- item,
- parcel,
- part,
- particular,
- percentage,
- portion,
- quadrant,
- quarter,
- quota,
- random sample,
- remainder,
- representation,
- representative,
- sample,
- sampling,
- section,
- sector,
- segment,
- share,
- specimen,
- subdivision,
- subgroup,
- subspecies,
- transection,
- transversion,
- traversal,
- type,
- typification