1. a wooden or concrete beam placed crosswise under railroad tracks to support the rails
Usage: railroad terminology

Examples

• The workers replaced several damaged crossties along the railway.
• Each crosstie must be properly spaced to ensure track stability.
• The old wooden crossties were being replaced with concrete ones.
• Maintenance crews inspect crossties regularly for signs of wear.
• The train derailed when a rotten crosstie gave way under pressure.
• Modern crossties are treated with preservatives to resist decay.