transverse
Americanadjective
-
lying or extending across or in a cross direction; cross.
-
(of a flute) having a mouth hole in the side of the tube, near its end, across which the player's breath is directed.
-
(of an automotive engine) mounted with the crankshaft oriented sideways.
noun
-
something that is transverse.
-
Nautical. web frame.
-
Geometry. transverse axis.
-
a city road that cuts through a park or other area of light traffic; shortcut.
adjective
-
crossing from side to side; athwart; crossways
-
geometry denoting the axis that passes through the foci of a hyperbola
-
(of a flute, etc) held almost at right angles to the player's mouth, so that the breath passes over a hole in the side to create a vibrating air column within the tube of the instrument
-
astronomy another word for tangential
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of transverse
First recorded in 1610–20, transverse is from the Latin word trānsversus going or lying across, athwart. See traverse
Explanation
If something is transverse it goes sideways or at an angle. You might take a transverse path cutting across the park — it's a short cut if you're in a hurry, because you don't have to walk the entire length. First used in the 1590s, the adjective transverse comes from the Latin word transvertere, which combines the prefix trans-, meaning "across," and vertere, meaning "to turn." Something that's transverse cuts across something. A doctor may make a transverse incision into a patient's abdomen during an appendectomy. Set between two buildings, a dark alley is transverse to the bustling city street.
Vocabulary lists containing transverse
Waves and Wave Properties - Introductory
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Waves and Wave Properties - Middle School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Physics - Introductory
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Transverse forces" can appear not only in engineered materials, such as certain magnetic solids, but also in biological systems.
From Science Daily • Oct. 21, 2025
The south-facing slopes in the Transverse Ranges will be getting the heaviest rainfall, and flooding is likely to be exacerbated by already saturated soil from earlier winter storms.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 3, 2024
Transverse muscles, which spiral around the outside, aid in twisting the trunk.
From Science Magazine • Sep. 26, 2023
These include parts of the Peninsular and Transverse mountain ranges in Southern California, as well as on the Central Coast and in the Sierra Foothills.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2023
Transverse fibres Fibres in the skeleton of a sponge that run across between the radiating fibres.
From Freshwater Sponges, Hydroids & Polyzoa by Annandale, Nelson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
