Word Study
transverse
CIDE DICTIONARY
transverse, a. [L. transversus, p. p. of transvertere to turn on direct across; trans across + vertere to turn: cf. F. transverse. See Verse, and cf. Traverse.].
Lying or being across, or in a crosswise direction; athwart; -- often opposed to longitudinal . [1913 Webster]
transverse, n.
- Anything that is transverse or athwart. [1913 Webster]
- The longer, or transverse, axis of an ellipse. [1913 Webster]
transverse, v. t.
To overturn; to change. C. Leslie. [1913 Webster]
transverse, v. t. [Pref. trans- + verse, n. Cf.Transpose.].
To change from prose into verse, or from verse into prose. Duke of Buckingham. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
transverse, adj. situated, arranged, or acting in a crosswise direction.
Idiom
transverse magnet a magnet with poles at the sides and not the ends. transverse wave Physics a wave in which the medium vibrates at right angles to the direction of its propagation.
Derivative
transversely adv.
Etymology
L transvertere transvers- turn across (as TRANS-, vertere turn)
THESAURUS
transverse
across, across the grain, athwart, athwartships, bar, bend, bendwise, bias, biased, biaswise, catercorner, catercornered, contrariwise, contrawise, crisscross, cross, cross bitt, cross-grained, crossarm, crossbar, crosscut, crossed, crossing, crosspiece, crossway, crossways, crosswise, cruciate, cut across, decussate, diagonal, doubletree, intercross, intersect, kittycorner, lie across, oblique, oblique angle, oblique figure, oblique line, obliquely, overthwart, rhomboid, scratch comma, separatrix, sideways, sidewise, singletree, slant, slash, solidus, swingletree, thwart, thwartly, thwartways, transept, transom, transversal, transversely, traverse, virgule, whippletreeROGET THESAURUS
transverse
Crossing
N crossing, intersection, interdigitation, decussation, transversion, convolution, level crossing, reticulation, network, inosculation, anastomosis, intertexture, mortise, net, plexus, web, mesh, twill, skein, sleeve, felt, lace, wicker, mat, matting, plait, trellis, wattle, lattice, grating, grille, gridiron, tracery, fretwork, filigree, reticle, tissue, netting, mokes, rivulation, cross, chain, wreath, braid, cat's cradle, knot, entangle, cloth, linen, muslin, cambric, crossing, crossed, matted, v, transverse, cross, cruciform, crucial, retiform, reticular, reticulated, areolar, cancellated, grated, barred, streaked, textile, crossbarred, cruciate, palmiped, secant, web-footed, cross, thwart, athwart, transversely, at grade, crosswise.For further exploring for "transverse" in Webster Dictionary Online