cross bit
- noun
- Specialized
- A cross bit is ideal for drilling into hard, rocky surfaces because of its cruciform design.
Examples
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The mining crew replaced the worn cross bit before starting the next shift underground.
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Over time, the cutting edges of a cross bit can become blunt and require sharpening.
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The cross bit is essential for drilling hard rock.
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Many miners prefer using a cross bit for efficiency.
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A cross bit is specifically designed for drilling hard rock due to its cross-shaped cutting edges.
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The mining crew carefully inspected the cross bit to ensure it was sharp enough for the day's work.
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Using a cross bit allows miners to drill through tough surfaces more efficiently than standard drill bits.
Synonyms
The cutting part of a drill that makes holes
A metal tool that makes holes in hard materials like rock or wood when attached to a drill
A drill part with hard rollers that cut through rock
A drill part with hard turning wheels that cut through rock
A tool fixed to a machine that cuts rock and earth to make a hole for oil
A tool for a drill that cuts into rock or other hard material
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a drill bit with cruciform (cross-shaped) cutting edges' is directly derivable from combining 'cross' (cross-shaped) with 'bit' (the replaceable cutting part of a drill). This is a regular shape+object compound pattern in English and would be readily understood by a B1 learner who knows both constituent words.
Etymology
The noun cross bit comes from the tool's shape: the cutting tip has four arms that form a cross, so the bit bites into rock from different sides. That's why a cross bit is a drill bit used 'to drill' into hard rock.