breadthwise

6.7

Across the width of something rather than along its length

adverb
/ˈbrɛdθˌwaɪz/

: en sentido ancho

Fold the paper breadthwise before slicing it into strips.

Examples

The fabric was cut breadthwise to ensure the pattern matched.
Lay the plank breadthwise across the beams for added stability.
The fabric was cut breadthwise to ensure a better fit.
We need to place the table breadthwise in the room.
Fold the paper breadthwise to create a shorter strip for your project.
The carpenter positioned the board breadthwise over the support beams for even weight distribution.
She arranged the pictures breadthwise along the wall to maximize the available space.

Synonyms

across

vsbreadthwise

∞ 1.0

From one side of something to the other side

specifies crossing the width rather than any side to side movement

laterally

vsbreadthwise

8 5.0

To the side, moving in a sideways way

means crossing the width rather than merely moving toward a side

crosswise

vsbreadthwise

4 4.1

Across something instead of along it, sometimes meaning wrong or not as planned

is a neutral across direction focused on width not wrongness

transversely

vsbreadthwise

1 6.7

In a way that goes across something at a right angle to its main direction

focuses on crossing the width rather than orientation to main axis

breadthways

vsbreadthwise

Archaic

8.1

Across the width of something from one short side to the other

is the same meaning but is an alternative adverb form

broadwise

vsbreadthwise

Archaic

8.6

Across the wide side of something rather than along its length

is the same meaning but is a less common variant form

Surface Forms

breadthwise positive

Morphology

breadthwise = breadth (transparent) = breadth + wise

The adverb is formed by adding the productive suffix '-wise' to 'breadth', yielding 'in the direction of the width', which a typical B1 learner can infer.

Etymology

Breadthwise comes from breadth ('width' or how wide something is) plus the little ending -wise ('in the way of'), like the similar word lengthwise. So breadthwise simply means 'across the width' of something, which is why you fold paper or lay a board breadthwise to go from one side to the other.