crosswise position

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrasetechnical

   A placement in which something lies across something else, not along it.

   Grammar: Used as a noun phrase: in a crosswise position, place something in a crosswise position.

   Patterns

   • in a crosswise position
   • place something in a crosswise position

   The surgeon placed the instrument in a crosswise position over the wound.

   Lay the strips in a crosswise position to cover the gap.

   The baby was lying in a crosswise position in the womb.

2. 2phrasefixed phrasetechnical

   A direction or arrangement that goes from side to side rather than up and down or front to back.

   Grammar: Often follows the verb be or lie.

   Patterns

   • be in a crosswise position
   • lie in a crosswise position

   The beams were in a crosswise position, forming a grid.

   The fabric was cut in a crosswise position to give it more stretch.

   Make sure the label is in a crosswise position so it can be read easily.

Common combinations

in a crosswise position

The technician set the sample in a crosswise position.

place in a crosswise position

Place the two rods in a crosswise position.

lie in a crosswise position

The patient had to lie in a crosswise position for the scan.

crosswise position of the baby

A crosswise position of the baby can make delivery difficult.

Synonyms and how they differ

transverse position

Transverse is the technical term in medicine and science; crosswise is plainer and more general.

sideways position

Sideways often means facing to the side, while crosswise stresses lying across something.

Opposites

Word family

crosswise adverb

In a direction across something.

crossways adverb

A less common variant of crosswise.

Commonly confused: crosswise position or crossroads?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “crosswise position”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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