transverse

adj. placed or lying across something, especially at a right angle to the main direction.

adj. situated or lying across; positioned crosswise or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of a structure.

“The builders placed transverse beams across the roof to support the heavy tiles.”

“The design incorporates several transverse steel girders to ensure the bridge can withstand lateral wind pressure during storms.”

Technical

adj. a cut or section made across the body at a right angle to the spine.

adj. pertaining to a plane that divides the body into superior and inferior parts, perpendicular to the long axis.

“The doctor looked at a transverse slice of the patient's brain on the scan.”

“A transverse section of the spinal cord reveals the characteristic butterfly-shaped distribution of grey matter surrounded by white matter tracts.”

Technical

n. a part of a structure that goes across, like a beam in a ship or a road.

n. a structural component, such as a web frame in shipbuilding or a cross-member, that lies athwart the main axis.

“The engineer checked each transverse for signs of rust or damage.”

“The hull's integrity depends on the spacing of the transverses, which provide essential lateral rigidity against the force of the waves.”

Technical

v. to lie across something or to change its form.

v. to lie or run across; to traverse. Occasionally used to mean to transform or overturn.

“The ancient path used to transverse the valley before the new road was built.”

“In his later essays, the philosopher attempts to transverse the traditional boundaries between logic and aesthetics.”

Archaic · Formal