intersect

American  

[in-ter-sekt] / ˌɪn tərˈsɛkt /

verb (used with object)

1. to cut or divide by passing through or across.

   The highway intersects the town.

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verb (used without object)

1. to cross, as lines or wires.

2. Geometry. to have one or more points in common.

   intersecting lines.

intersect British  

/ ˌɪntəˈsɛkt /

verb

1. to divide, cut, or mark off by passing through or across

2. (esp of roads) to cross (each other)

3. maths (often foll by with) to have one or more points in common (with another configuration)

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Other Word Forms

• nonintersecting
  adjective
• self-intersecting
  adjective
• unintersected
  adjective
• unintersecting
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of intersect

1605–15; < Latin intersectus, past participle of intersecāre “to cut through, sever”; see inter- ( def. ), -sect ( def. )

Explanation

When two things intersect, they run into each other, or lie across each other. Your street might intersect with a main avenue, and your life will hopefully intersect with the lives of other interesting people. In geometry, when a line intersects another line, they meet at exactly one point, and when a circle intersects a line, there are two points where they touch each other. When two streets intersect, you get an intersection, where you'll often find a stop sign or traffic signal. The Latin root of intersect is intersectus, "intersect or cut asunder," which combines inter-, "between," and secare, "to cut."

Example Sentences

The company’s pending deal to buy Intersect, a wind and solar developer, would make it the only tech giant to own a power company.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026

Notably, Alphabet made it clear in its announcement that it bought Intersect Power’s new development pipeline, not its operating assets, which will go to another group of investors.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

Alphabet agreed to buy Intersect Power for $4.75 billion, including debt.

From Barron's • Dec. 27, 2025

Alphabet took a minority stake in Intersect last year when it lead a $800 million funding round along with alternative asset manager TPG’s climate investing arm.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 22, 2025

Intersect her career at what point you will and you find her mind taken up with coming events.

From Revisiting the Earth by Hill, James Langdon

Related Words

• converge
• cross