cross-section

IPA/ˈkrɒs sekʃn/
IPA/ˈkrɔːs sekʃn/

cross-section — 名詞

1. an image or view of the inside of something after it has been cut through, showi

1.名詞B2
釋義

橫截面

切開物體後看到的內部形狀或圖示

an image or view of the inside of something after it has been cut through, showing the different layers or parts that make it up.

例句

The biology textbook showed a cross-section of a human heart with each chamber clearly labelled.

生物課本中有一張人體心臟的橫截面圖，每個腔室都標示得很清楚。

cross-section + of + body part or object

Mei-Lin studied the cross-section of a tree trunk under the microscope to count the growth rings.

Mei-Lin 在顯微鏡下觀察樹幹的橫截面，計算年輪的數量。

同義詞
  • cutaway

    specifically a drawing or model that shows the inside by removing an outer layer

  • section

    shorter and more general; can also mean a part of a whole

  • profile

    a side view of something, not a cut-through view

文法句型

cross-section + of + noun

用法筆記

Often followed by 'of' to specify which object is being shown from the inside. Common in biology, geology, engineering, and architecture textbooks.

常見錯誤

❌The doctor took a cross-section of my arm.' (sounds like cutting the person)
✅The doctor looked at a cross-section of the bone in the X-ray.
💡a cross-section usually shows an object that has been cut, not a living body part being removed.

2. a deliberately varied subset of a larger whole, chosen so that each important ty

2.名詞B2
釋義

典型代表

包含各類別的代表性小群體

a deliberately varied subset of a larger whole, chosen so that each important type within that whole is included.

例句

The researchers interviewed a cross-section of the town's residents, from students to retired workers.

研究人員訪問了該鎮各階層的居民，從學生到退休人員都有。

a cross-section of + diverse group of people

Omar's online course included a cross-section of students from more than twenty different countries.

Omar 的線上課程中有來自超過二十個不同國家的學生，堪稱各國縮影。

同義詞
  • sample

    more general; may not be deliberately representative

  • spectrum

    emphasises the range of variation from one extreme to another

  • selection

    focuses on the act of choosing, not necessarily representation

文法句型

a cross-section of + group noun

用法筆記

Used in research, surveys, and general descriptions to emphasise that the group is deliberately varied. Unlike a random 'sample', a cross-section is understood to contain all the important sub-types in their natural proportions.

常見錯誤

❌The shop had a cross-section of hats.' (hats aren't types of people/things in a structured group)
✅The shop's customers were a cross-section of the local community.
💡a cross-section must represent the main types of a larger, structured whole.

3. a surface or shape produced by cutting through a solid object at a right angle t

3.名詞C1
釋義

斷面；剖面

與物體主軸垂直的切面

a surface or shape produced by cutting through a solid object at a right angle to its longest axis, used in geometry and engineering to analyse the object's internal structure.

例句

In geometry class, the students calculated the area of a cross-section through the centre of a cylinder.

在幾何課上，學生們計算了通過圓柱體中心的斷面面積。

cross-section + through + geometric shape

The architect drew a cross-section of the building to show how each floor connected to the elevator shaft.

建築師畫了建築物的剖面圖，顯示每個樓層如何與電梯井連接。

同義詞
  • section

    shorter, used in technical contexts; not always perpendicular

  • plane

    the flat surface of the cut, a more abstract geometric term

  • profile

    can mean a side view, but usually not a cut surface

文法句型

cross-section + of + noun

cross-section + through + noun

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: sense 3 focuses on the geometric plane or surface resulting from a perpendicular cut, whereas sense 1 focuses on the visible internal structure shown in an illustration or specimen. Sense 3 is primarily used in mathematics, architecture, and mechanical engineering.

常見錯誤

❌I cut the apple at a cross-section.' (unclear angle)
✅I cut the apple at a right angle to its stem to produce a cross-section.
💡a cross-section in the geometric sense must be perpendicular to the object's axis.

4. a broad description or analysis that brings together the main features and relat

4.名詞C1
釋義

綜合縮影

揭示各環節關聯的全面描述

a broad description or analysis that brings together the main features and relationships of a complex subject, showing how the parts connect to form the whole.

例句

The documentary offered a cross-section of life in the Amazon, showing links between plants, animals, and local communities.

這部紀錄片呈現了亞馬遜生活的全貌，展示了植物、動物與當地社區之間的連結。

offer / present a cross-section of + complex subject

Her annual report gave a cross-section of the company's operations across all its regional offices.

她的年度報告呈現了該公司所有區域辦事處的業務全貌。

同義詞
  • overview

    emphasises breadth of coverage rather than structural relationships

  • survey

    suggests a systematic examination, often with data

  • composite

    focuses on the blend of elements, less on their relationships

文法句型

a cross-section of + complex subject

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 2: sense 2 focuses on a representative group of people or items that stand for a larger population; sense 4 focuses on a composite description that reveals the internal relationships of a system. Sense 4 is common in analytical writing about society, organisations, and ecosystems.