cross-section
|cross/sec/tion|
🇺🇸
/ˈkrɔsˌsɛkʃən/
🇬🇧
/ˈkrɒsˌsɛkʃən/
cut-through; representative slice
Etymology
'cross-section' originates from Modern English as a compound of 'cross' and 'section', where 'cross' ultimately derives from Old English 'cros' (via Old Norse 'kross') influenced by Latin 'crux', and 'section' originates from Latin 'sectio' (from 'secare' meaning 'to cut').
'cross' in Old English was 'cros' (itself influenced by Old Norse 'kross'), while 'section' came into English from Latin 'sectio' through Old French/Medieval Latin; the compound 'cross-section' emerged in English usage in the 19th century to describe a cut showing internal structure.
Initially it referred mainly to a physical 'cut across' producing a sectional view; over time it gained figurative use to mean a representative sample of a larger group or category.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a surface or shape produced by cutting straight through an object, showing its internal structure or layers.
The engineer examined a cross-section of the beam to check for hidden cracks.
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Noun 2
a representative sample or selection that shows the characteristics of a larger group.
The survey included a cross-section of the city's residents.
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Noun 3
in geometry or technical contexts, the intersection of a solid body with a plane; the resulting figure or outline.
At that height the cone's cross-section is a circle.
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Adjective 1
adjective form ('cross-sectional'): relating to or obtained by examining a cross-section; used attributively to describe analyses or views based on a cross-section.
A cross-section analysis can reveal differences between age groups.
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Last updated: 2025/08/17 00:54