crosscut

Crosscut is a term used in several fields to describe a cut, passage, or action that traverses something else. In woodworking and carpentry, a crosscut is a cut made perpendicular to the grain of a board, as opposed to a rip cut along the grain.

Tools and techniques for crosscutting include hand saws with fine teeth, crosscut saws, and power tools such as miter saws and table saws configured for crosscuts. Crosscut blades have tooth geometry optimized to cut across the grain, producing cleaner edges and minimizing tearing.

In film editing, crosscutting is the technique of alternating between two or more actions in different locations, typically to imply simultaneous activity or to build dramatic tension.

In geology, cross-cutting relationships describe a feature that cuts across preexisting rock layers or structures; such a crosscutting feature is generally younger than the material it disrupts, helping establish relative ages.

In mining and civil engineering, a crosscut is a horizontal passage driven to intersect a vein, seam, or underground feature, enabling access for extraction or exploration.