Section vs. Cross Section — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Published on November 1, 2023
A Section refers to a distinct portion or subdivision of something, while a Cross Section is a view or representation of something as if it were cut along a plane, usually perpendicular to its axis.
Difference Between Section and Cross Section
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
A Section is generally understood as a specific part or segment of something larger, be it a document, land, or any other entity. It demarcates a portion from the whole. Conversely, a Cross Section provides a visual slice of an object, revealing the internal arrangement when it's sliced perpendicular to its long axis.
When reading a book, a Section could refer to a chapter or a part within it, distinguishing one segment from the rest. In contrast, a Cross Section might be employed in scientific contexts, where one needs to observe the internal structures of an object or organism by examining a sliced portion.
In terms of land or property, a Section might refer to a specific plot or parcel. It indicates a division within a broader expanse of land. Meanwhile, a Cross Section in topography or geology would showcase layers beneath the surface, providing insights into soil composition, rock layers, or underground features.
In engineering or architectural contexts, when designing a building or structure, one might look at various Sections to understand different parts of the construction. However, a Cross Section would provide a detailed view of the building as if it's cut from top to bottom, displaying internal arrangements and layers.
While both Section and Cross Section deal with portions or parts, their fundamental difference lies in their application. A Section divides or segments, while a Cross Section reveals and offers an inside view.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
A distinct portion or subdivision.
A view as if something were cut along a plane.
Application
General demarcation of a part.
Scientific, engineering, or architectural inside view.
Perspective
Observes as a part of a whole.
Observes internal structures by slicing.
Usage in Literature
Can refer to parts of a book or document.
Rarely used in this context.
Associated Image
Imagine a portion of land or book chapter.
Imagine a tree cut perpendicular to see its internal rings.
Compare with Definitions
Section
A distinct part of a whole.
The first section of the book was the most engaging.
Cross Section
A view as if an object is cut along a plane.
The cross section of the tree revealed its age.
Section
A plot of land.
They bought a small section on the outskirts of town.
Cross Section
A diverse or representative selection.
The meeting had a cross section of employees from all departments.
Section
A segment of a musical or artistic work.
The brass section played a significant role in the orchestra.
Cross Section
A section made perpendicular to an axis.
The cross section of the pipe showed corrosion.
Section
A specific class or category.
The clothing store has a section dedicated to formal wear.
Cross Section
A representation showing internal structures.
The cross section of the building showcased its unique design.
Section
One of several components; a piece.
Cross Section
A sample that represents the whole.
The survey targeted a cross section of the population.
Section
A subdivision of a written work.
Cross Section
A section formed by a plane cutting through an object, usually at right angles to an axis.
Section
(Law) A distinct portion or provision of a legal code or set of laws, often establishing a particular legal requirement
Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.
Cross Section
A piece so cut or a graphic representation of such a piece.
Section
A distinct portion of a newspaper
The sports section.
Cross Section
(Physics) A quantity, measured in units of barns, used to express the probability of an encounter between particles over a given area in a collision. Also called collision cross section.
Section
A distinct area of a town, county, or country
A residential section.
Cross Section
(Statistics) A sample meant to be representative of a whole population.
Section
A land unit equal to one square mile (2.59 square kilometers), 640 acres, or 1/36 of a township.
Cross Section
(Informal) A variety; a diversity.
Section
The act or process of separating or cutting, especially the surgical cutting or dividing of tissue.
Cross Section
Alternative spelling of cross section
Section
A thin slice, as of tissue, suitable for microscopic examination.
Cross Section
Representing a plane made by cutting across something at right angles to its length;
Cross-section views of the neck
Section
A segment of a fruit, especially a citrus fruit.
Section
Representation of a solid object as it would appear if cut by an intersecting plane, so that the internal structure is displayed.
Section
(Music) A group of instruments or voices in the same class considered as a division of a band, orchestra, or choir
The rhythm section.
The woodwind section.
Section
A class or discussion group of students taking the same course
She taught three sections of English composition.
Section
A portion of railroad track maintained by a single crew.
Section
An area in a train's sleeping car containing an upper and lower berth.
Section
An army tactical unit smaller than a platoon and larger than a squad.
Section
A unit of vessels or aircraft within a division of armed forces.
Section
One of two or more vehicles, such as a bus or train, given the same route and schedule, often used to carry extra passengers.
Section
The character (§) used in printing to mark the beginning of a section.
Section
This character used as the fourth in a series of reference marks for footnotes.
Section
(Informal) A cesarean section.
Section
To separate or divide into parts.
Section
To cut or divide (tissue) surgically.
Section
To shade or crosshatch (part of a drawing) to indicate sections.
Section
(Informal) To perform a cesarean section on.
Section
A cutting; a part cut out from the rest of something.
Section
A part, piece, subdivision of anything.
Section
(music) A group of instruments in an orchestra.
The horn section is the group of symphonic musicians who play the French horn.
Section
A part of a document.
Section
An act or instance of cutting.
Section
A cross-section (image that shows an object as if cut along a plane).
Section
(aviation) A cross-section perpendicular the longitudinal axis of an aircraft in flight.
Section
(surgery) An incision or the act of making an incision.
Section
(sciences) A thin slice of material prepared as a specimen for research.
Section
(botany) A taxonomic rank below the genus (and subgenus if present), but above the species.
Section
(zoology) An informal taxonomic rank below the order ranks and above the family ranks.
Section
(military) A group of 10-15 soldiers led by a non-commissioned officer and forming part of a platoon.
Section
(category theory) A right inverse.
Section
(NZ) A piece of residential land; a plot.
Section
(Canadian) A one-mile square area of land, defined by a government survey.
Section
Any of the squares, each containing 640 acres, into which the public lands of the United States were divided.
Section
The symbol §, denoting a section of a document.
Section
(geology) A sequence of rock layers.
Section
A class in a school; a group of students in a regularly scheduled meeting with a teacher in a certain school year or semester or school quarter year.
Section
To cut, divide or separate into pieces.
Section
To reduce to the degree of thinness required for study with the microscope.
Section
(UK) To commit (a person, to a hospital, with or without their consent), as for mental health reasons. So called after various sections of legal acts regarding mental health.
Section
To perform a cesarean section on (someone).
Section
The act of cutting, or separation by cutting; as, the section of bodies.
Section
A part separated from something; a division; a portion; a slice.
Section
A distinct part or portion of a book or writing; a subdivision of a chapter; the division of a law or other writing; a paragraph; an article; hence, the character often used to denote such a division.
It is hardly possible to give a distinct view of his several arguments in distinct sections.
Section
The figure made up of all the points common to a superficies and a solid which meet, or to two superficies which meet, or to two lines which meet. In the first case the section is a superficies, in the second a line, and in the third a point.
Section
A distinct part of a country or people, community, class, or the like; a part of a territory separated by geographical lines, or of a people considered as distinct.
The extreme section of one class consists of bigoted dotards, the extreme section of the other consists of shallow and reckless empirics.
Section
A division of a genus; a group of species separated by some distinction from others of the same genus; - often indicated by the sign .
Section
One of the portions, of one square mile each, into which the public lands of the United States are divided; one thirty-sixth part of a township. These sections are subdivided into quarter sections for sale under the homestead and preëmption laws.
Section
A part of a musical period, composed of one or more phrases. See Phrase.
Section
The description or representation of anything as it would appear if cut through by any intersecting plane; depiction of what is beyond a plane passing through, or supposed to pass through, an object, as a building, a machine, a succession of strata; profile.
Section
A self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical);
He always turns first to the business section
The history of this work is discussed in the next section
Section
A very thin slice (of tissue or mineral or other substance) for examination under a microscope;
Sections from the left ventricle showed diseased tissue
Section
A distinct region or subdivision of a territorial or political area or community or group of people;
No section of the nation is more ardent than the South
There are three synagogues in the Jewish section
Section
One of several parts or pieces that fit with others to constitute a whole object;
A section of a fishing rod
Metal sections were used below ground
Finished the final segment of the road
Section
A small team of policemen working as part of a police platoon
Section
One of the portions into which something is regarded as divided and which together constitute a whole;
The written part of the exam
The finance section of the company
The BBC's engineering division
Section
A land unit of 1 square mile measuring 1 mile on a side
Section
(geometry) the area created by a plane cutting through a solid
Section
A division of an orchestra containing all instruments of the same class
Section
A small army unit usually having a special function
Section
A specialized division of a large organization;
You'll find it in the hardware department
She got a job in the historical section of the Treasury
Section
A segment of a citrus fruit;
He ate a section of the orange
Section
The cutting of or into body tissues or organs (especially by a surgeon as part of an operation)
Section
Divide into segments;
Segment an orange
Segment a compound word
Section
A subdivision within a document or code.
Refer to section 2.1 for further details.
Common Curiosities
What does Section commonly refer to in a book?
A Section in a book often refers to a chapter or a distinct part of the content.
Can Section refer to land division?
Yes, a Section can indicate a specific plot or parcel of land.
What insights can a Cross Section of soil provide?
A Cross Section of soil can show layers, composition, and other underground features.
How does a Section differ from a segment?
Both refer to parts, but a Section often implies a formal or organized division.
Is a Cross Section always perpendicular?
Typically, a Cross Section is made perpendicular to an object's main axis, but not always.
Can Section refer to a division in an organization?
Yes, a department or unit in an organization can be called a Section.
How is Cross Section used in biology?
In biology, a Cross Section might display internal structures of an organism or plant.
Are Section and subsection related?
Yes, a subsection is a division of a larger Section.
How do architects use Cross Sections?
Architects use Cross Sections to show inside views of structures, revealing layered designs.
How do geologists use Cross Sections?
Geologists use Cross Sections to visualize and study earth's layers and structures.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Cytokines vs. Chemokines
Next Comparison
Active Site vs. Binding SiteAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
