cross section
noun
1
a
: a cutting or piece of something cut off at right angles to an axis
also
: a representation of such a cutting
b
2
: a measure of the probability of an encounter between particles such as will result in a specified effect (such as scattering or capture)
3
: a composite representation typifying the constituents of a thing in their relations
cross-section
transitive verb
Examples of cross section in a Sentence
a detailed cross section of the human brain
The drawing showed the human brain in cross section.
The class surveyed a cross section of the student body.
The people in our neighborhood are a representative cross section of American society.
Recent Examples on the Web
The teeth at the front of the dinosaur’s jaw, however, are D-shaped in cross section, with the curve of the D facing out toward the lip and a flat side facing the interior of the mouth.
—
Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 July 2025
To get past labor shortages, its leaders have hired from a cross section of related fields rather than focusing solely on PhD physicists.
—Justin Worland, Time, 17 July 2025
For several weeks, Cook and clergy members from a cross section of religions have been showing up at courtrooms in Orange County, Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego to stand with immigrants during their deportation hearings.
—Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2025
It’s been 17 years since tainted blood thinner from China injured or killed hundreds of people in the United States, and since then, contaminants and other defects have appeared in a cross section of America’s generic drugs.
—Brandon Roberts, ProPublica, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cross section
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Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 July 2025
To get past labor shortages, its leaders have hired from a cross section of related fields rather than focusing solely on PhD physicists.
—Justin Worland, Time, 17 July 2025
For several weeks, Cook and clergy members from a cross section of religions have been showing up at courtrooms in Orange County, Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego to stand with immigrants during their deportation hearings.
—Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2025
It’s been 17 years since tainted blood thinner from China injured or killed hundreds of people in the United States, and since then, contaminants and other defects have appeared in a cross section of America’s generic drugs.
—Brandon Roberts, ProPublica, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cross section
Cite this Entry
“Cross section.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cross%20section. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
cross section
noun
: a cutting or piece of something cut off at right angles to an axis
also
: a representation of such a cutting
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