cross-sectional
cross-sectional — adjective
1. used to describe a type of research that gathers information from a group of peo
used to describe a type of research that gathers information from a group of people or things at a single point in time, instead of watching them develop over months or years.
A cross-sectional survey of 600 Bangkok households measured how many had high-speed internet access.
attributive: cross-sectional + survey
Unlike a ten-year longitudinal study, a cross-sectional study compares different age groups at one moment.
contrasted with longitudinal — opposite method
Dr. Mensah published a cross-sectional analysis of reading scores from 1,200 primary students across five Nairobi schools.
Epidemiologists often start with a cross-sectional survey to estimate how many people carry a certain disease.
- longitudinal
the opposite research design — follows subjects over an extended period
文法句型
cross-sectional + noun (study, survey, analysis, research)
用法筆記
Frequently used as an attributive modifier before nouns such as study, survey, research, analysis, or design. Does not appear predicatively — you would not say 'this research is cross-sectional'; instead say 'this is a cross-sectional study'.
常見錯誤
2. showing or relating to a picture, diagram, or image that reveals the inside of s
showing or relating to a picture, diagram, or image that reveals the inside of something by cutting straight through it.
The biology textbook included a cross-sectional diagram of the human heart with the four chambers clearly labelled.
attributive: cross-sectional + diagram
The architect drew a cross-sectional view of the five-storey building to show the lift shaft.
The MRI scan produced a cross-sectional image of Sofia's left knee, revealing a small tear in the cartilage.
Geology students examined a cross-sectional view of the cliff face to understand the layers of rock formed over millions of years.
文法句型
cross-sectional + noun (view, diagram, image, drawing)
用法筆記
Used attributively before nouns for visual representations. In technical contexts it may appear after 'is' when the noun serving as subject is also a visual term: 'This view is cross-sectional.'
常見錯誤
cross-sectional — noun
1. a piece or thin slice made by cutting something straight across, especially to d
a piece or thin slice made by cutting something straight across, especially to display its internal structure or layers.
Wei placed a cross-section of the bamboo stem under the microscope and counted the vascular bundles.
cross-section + of + [object]
A cross-section of the old oak tree revealed seventy-two growth rings, each one representing a year of life.
The plumber cut a cross-section of the rusty pipe to inspect the corrosion damage from the inside.
文法句型
cross-section + of + noun (the stem / the beam / the pipe)
用法筆記
Countable noun. Often used with 'of' to specify what is being cut. Common in biology (plant stems, organs), geology (rock layers), and engineering (materials).
2. a group of people or things that includes many different types from a larger pop
a group of people or things that includes many different types from a larger population, so that it can represent the whole.
The newspaper interviewed a cross-section of commuters — office workers, delivery drivers, and retirees who use the train daily.
a cross-section of + [diverse group]
The university admissions panel aims to enrol a broad cross-section of students from different regions, income backgrounds, and academic interests.
Fatima's photography project captured a cross-section of life in her neighbourhood — elderly people, young families, shopkeepers, and schoolchildren.
- monolith
a group with no internal variety — the opposite of a cross-section
文法句型
a cross-section + of + group (society, population, voters, students)
用法筆記
Almost always appears in a 'cross-section of [group]' pattern with an adjective like broad, wide, or diverse before it. The group noun must be a population with meaningful internal variety — you would not say 'a cross-section of identical factory parts'.