interface

[in-ter-feys, in-ter-feys, in-ter-feys]

noun

1. a surface regarded as the common boundary of two bodies, spaces, or phases.

2. the facts, problems, considerations, theories, practices, etc., shared by two or more disciplines, procedures, or fields of study.

   the interface between chemistry and physics.

3. a common boundary or interconnection between systems, equipment, concepts, or human beings.

4. communication or interaction.

   Interface between the parent company and its subsidiaries has never been better.

5. a thing or circumstance that enables separate and sometimes incompatible elements to coordinate effectively.

   The organization serves as an interface between the state government and the public.

6. computer hardware or software designed to communicate information between hardware devices, between software programs, between devices and programs, or between a device and a user.

verb (used with object)

interfaced, interfacing 

1. to bring into an interface.

2. to bring together; connect or mesh.

   The management is interfacing several departments with an information service from overseas.

verb (used without object)

interfaced, interfacing 

1. to be in an interface.

2. to function as an interface.

3. to meet or communicate directly; interact, coordinate, synchronize, or harmonize (often followed bywith ).

   The two communications systems are able to interface with each other.

interface

/ ˌɪntəˈfeɪʃəl /

noun

1. chem a surface that forms the boundary between two bodies, liquids, or chemical phases

2. a common point or boundary between two things, subjects, etc

3. an electrical circuit linking one device, esp a computer, with another

verb

1. (tr) to design or adapt the input and output configurations of (two electronic devices) so that they may work together compatibly

2. to be or become an interface (with)

3. to be or become interactive (with)

interface

1. The point of interaction or communication between a computer and any other entity, such as a printer or human operator.

2. The layout of an application's graphic or textual controls in conjunction with the way the application responds to user activity.

3. See more at GUI

Other Word Forms

• interfacial adjective
• interfacially adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of interface¹

First recorded in 1880–85; inter- + face

Example Sentences

The interface was text-based and cumbersome, but the brothers loved experimenting, writing simple programs and using spreadsheets to track side projects like a sports-card-trading business.

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The growing interface between high finance and lower-middle-class America was assumed to be good for lower-middle-class America.

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"However, to ensure that such failures never recur, a broader understanding is needed -- one that encompasses the inter-organisational and inter-hierarchical interfaces that have not yet been examined," he added.

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The site facilitated the creation of niche fandoms via an interface that mimicked the intimacy of a passed-note conversation at the back of the class.

Read more on Salon

The company also announced a new partnership with Perplexity, who makes an artificial-intelligence search engine that will soon be featured in the chat interface of the Snapchat app.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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• broadcast 
• connect 
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• get across 
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• impart 
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• reach out www.thesaurus.com
• relate 
• reveal 
• suggest 
• tell