cross section

[krɔːs ˈsɛkʃən]
nounpl: cross sections
corte transversal
1. a slice or section of something cut at right angles to its length or axis
The engineer examined a cross section of the pipe to check for corrosion.
O engenheiro examinou um corte transversal do cano para verificar a corrosão.
2. a representative sample or mixture of different types of people or things from a larger group
The survey included a cross section of the population from different age groups and backgrounds.
A pesquisa incluiu uma amostra representativa da população de diferentes grupos etários e origens.
3. a diagram or drawing showing the internal structure of something as if cut vertically
The textbook showed a cross section of the human heart.
O livro mostrou um corte transversal do coração humano.
4. in physics, a measure of the effective area for an interaction between particles
The cross section for electron scattering was calculated using quantum mechanics.
A seção transversal para espalhamento de elétrons foi calculada usando mecânica quântica.
This term is widely used in both American English and Brazilian Portuguese in technical, scientific, medical, and social research contexts. In Brazil, 'corte transversal' is the standard term in engineering, architecture, and medicine. When discussing demographic surveys or social studies, 'amostra representativa' or 'corte transversal da população' are preferred. The concept reflects the scientific and analytical approach common in both cultures for understanding complex structures and populations.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
sectionslicesamplerepresentationtransverse section

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
corte transversal
most commonly used term in technical and scientific contexts
General Brazilian
seção transversal
formal/technical alternative, commonly used in engineering
General Brazilian
amostra representativa
used when referring to a representative sample of people or things
Portugal
corte transversal
equivalent usage in European Portuguese
Portugal
secção transversal
alternative spelling following European Portuguese conventions

Related Words

longitudinal sectionprofilediagramsamplingstructural analysiscutting plane

Related Idioms & Phrases

a cross section of society
take a cross section of
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