noun
transect
A line or strip across an area along which observations or samples are taken.
Researchers count wildflowers along a transect through the meadow.
Etymology
The parts mean cutting across. A survey transect lays an observational line or strip across a landscape to sample its features.
More examples
- We collect soil samples every ten feet along the transect.
- Three parallel transects cross the marsh.
- The team records every tree within a narrow transect.
Forms
transect · transects
Similar words
- traverse
- A surveyed route across terrain, not necessarily used for sampling.