'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

Words containing 'cross section'