intersection

[in-ter-sek-shuhn]

noun

1. a place where two or more roads meet, especially when at least one is a major highway; junction.

   Synonyms: corner, crossing

2. any place of intersection or the act or fact of intersecting.

3. Mathematics.

   1. Also called meet, product. the set of elements that two or more sets have in common. ∩

   2. the greatest lower bound of two elements in a lattice.

intersection

/ ˈɪntəˌsɛk-, ˌɪntəˈsɛkʃən /

noun

1. a point at which things intersect, esp a road junction

2. the act of intersecting or the state of being intersected

3. maths

   1. a point or set of points common to two or more geometric configurations

   2. Also called: product. the set of elements that are common to two sets

   3. the operation that yields that set from a pair of given sets. Symbol: ∩, as in A ∩ B

intersection

1. The point or set of points where one line, surface, or solid crosses another.

2. The set that contains only those elements shared by two or more sets. The intersection of the sets {3,4,5,6} and {4,6,8,10} is the set {4,6}. The symbol for intersection is .

3. Compare union

Other Word Forms

• intersectional adjective
• nonintersectional adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of intersection¹

First recorded in 1550–60, intersection is from the Latin word intersectiōn- (stem of intersectiō ). See intersect, -ion

Example Sentences

The intersection of food and health is receiving unprecedented attention in the United States.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

A weekly must-read of news, analysis and exclusive data focused on the intersection of business, money and climate.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

They’re dirt and sand roads, but there’s intersections, there’s right of way.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

It cited two scenarios: Cars traveling into an intersection on a red light and cars changing lanes into oncoming traffic.

Read more on Barron's

Police responded Tuesday around 1 a.m. to railroad tracks near the intersection of Millbrook Lane and Nuffield Lane, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crossing 
• interchange 
• junction