# transverse

/tɹænzˈvɝs/ (US) · /tɹænsvˈɜːs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/transverse
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. lying across

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

For teachers: 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.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it modifies.

### 2. anatomy

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

For teachers: 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.

### 3. a crosswise part

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

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

For teachers: 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.

### 4. to cross or change

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Formal

to lie across something or to change its form.

For teachers: 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.

Usage: This verb is transitive and requires a direct object.

## Examples

- The doctor examined the transverse muscle in my leg.
- The architect included several transverse beams to provide extra support across the width of the ceiling.
- In a transverse wave, the particles of the medium vibrate at right angles to the direction in which the wave itself travels, a concept fundamental to understanding light and radio signals.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.