intercept

English

Etymology

• From Latin interceptum, past participle of intercipere.

Pronunciation

Verb

• (RP) enPR: ĭntəsĕpt', IPA: /ɪntəˈsɛpt/, SAMPA: /Int@"sEpt/
• (US) enPR: ĭntərsĕpt', IPA: /ɪntɚˈsɛpt/, SAMPA: /Int@`"sEpt/

Noun

• (RP) enPR: ĭn'təsĕpt, IPA: /ˈɪntəsɛpt/, SAMPA: /"Int@sEpt/
• (US) enPR: ĭn'tərsĕpt, IPA: /ˈɪntɚsɛpt/, SAMPA: /"Int@`sEpt/
• Rhymes: -ɛpt

Noun

intercept (plural intercepts)

1. An interception of a radio broadcast or a telephone call.
2. An interception of a missile.
3. (algebraic geometry) The coordinate of the point at which a curve intersects an axis.

Translations

interception of a radio broadcast or a telephone call

Finnish: sieppaus (fi)

Italian: intercettazione (it) f. Japanese: 傍受 (ja) (bōju)

interception of a missile

Finnish: torjunta (fi)

Japanese: 迎撃 (ja) (geigeki)

coordinate of the point at which a curve intersects an axis

Finnish: leikkauspisteen koordinaatti

Hungarian: tengelymetszet (hu)

See also

• (an interception of a radio broadcast or a telephone call): bug

Verb

intercept (third-person singular simple present intercepts, present participle intercepting, simple past and past participle intercepted)

1. (transitive) To stop, deflect or divert (something in progress or motion).
   • 1749, John Cleland, Fanny Hill: Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure Part 2

     ...and made every vein of my body circulate liquid fires: the emotion grew so violent that it almost intercepted my respiration.

2. (transitive, sports) To gain possession of (the ball) in a ball game.

Translations

to stop, deflect or divert

Croatian: prèsresti (hr) pf., prèsretati (hr) impf. Finnish: pysäyttää (fi), torjua (fi), katkaista (fi), keskeyttää (fi)

French: intercepter (fr) Japanese: 阻止する (ja) (soshi suru) Polish: przechwycić (pl)

to gain possession of

Dutch: onderscheppen (nl) Finnish: siepata (fi), riistää (fi)

Japanese: 奪う (ja) (ubau) Spanish: interceptar (es), interrumpir (es)