intercept

[ verb in-ter-sept; noun in-ter-sept ]

/ verb ˌɪn tərˈsɛpt; noun ˈɪn tərˌsɛpt /

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See synonyms for: intercept / intercepted on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to take, seize, or halt (someone or something on the way from one place to another); cut off from an intended destination: to intercept a messenger.

to see or overhear (a message, transmission, etc., meant for another): We intercepted the enemy's battle plan.

to stop or check (passage, travel, etc.): to intercept the traitor's escape.

Sports. to take possession of (a ball or puck) during an attempted pass by an opposing team.

to stop or interrupt the course, progress, or transmission of.

to destroy or disperse (enemy aircraft or a missile or missiles) in the air on the way to a target.

to stop the natural course of (light, water, etc.).

Mathematics. to mark off or include, as between two points or lines.

to intersect.

Obsolete. to prevent or cut off the operation or effect of.

Obsolete. to cut off from access, sight, etc.

noun

an interception.

Mathematics.

an intercepted segment of a line.
(in a coordinate system) the distance from the origin to the point at which a curve or line intersects an axis.

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Origin of intercept

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin interceptus, past participle of intercipere “to intercept,” equivalent to inter- “between, among, together” + -cep- (combining form of cap-, stem of capere “to take”) + -tus past participle suffix; see inter-; cf. incipient

OTHER WORDS FROM intercept

in·ter·cep·tive, adjectivenon·in·ter·cept·ing, adjectivenon·in·ter·cep·tive, adjectiveun·in·ter·cept·ed, adjective

un·in·ter·cept·ing, adjective

Words nearby intercept

intercede, intercellular, intercellular bridge, intercellular canaliculus, intercensal, intercept, interception, interceptor, intercession, intercessor, intercessory

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use intercept in a sentence

In all fairness to Jay, he told The Intercept that he never expected to be a major figure in Serial.
The Deal With Serial’s Jay? He’s Pissed Off, Mucks Up Our Timeline|Emily Shire|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“The Intercept loses its editor in chief as First Look crumbles,” read a typical headline on the Mashable.com news site.
Journalists + eBay Billionaire = Chaos. The Troubles at Pierre Omidyar’s First Look Media|Lloyd Grove|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
These jets—variants of the Boeing 707 model—are equipped with advanced sensor and signal intercept packages.
Kerry: U.S. Taped Moscow’s Calls to Its Ukraine Spies|Josh Rogin, Eli Lake|April 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Both left The Guardian last year to begin a news startup funded by Internet billionaire Pierre Omidyar called The Intercept.
Guardian and WaPo Share Pulitzer: Snowden Hails Victory for “More Accountable Democracy”|David Freedlander|April 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST

They intercept and diffuse, to some extent babysitting the possible aggressor until the disease of violent intent has passed.
Using Strategies Reserved for Disease Outbreak, Activists Try to “Cure” Urban Violence|Sarah Kunst|April 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
With scarcely a point to intercept the view, after being thirteen miles within it.
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia] [Volume 2 of 2]|Phillip Parker King
He at once set out to try and intercept his advance on Paris, but his troops refused to act against their former leader.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
Carna changed her course to parallel the pursuit, and they changed again, to intercept her new direction.
Valley of the Croen|Lee Tarbell
Only once I saw a neighbour, in the balcony below, intercept the post, and I believe substitute some other letter.
Spanish Life in Town and Country|L. Higgin and Eugne E. Street
The river below Wroxham is very narrow and very sinuous; its banks lined with groves of trees which intercept the wind.
Yachting Vol. 2|Various.

British Dictionary definitions for intercept

intercept

verb (ˌɪntəˈsɛpt) (tr)

to stop, deflect, or seize on the way from one place to another; prevent from arriving or proceeding

sport to seize or cut off (a pass) on its way from one opponent to another

maths to cut off, mark off, or bound (some part of a line, curve, plane, or surface)

noun (ˈɪntəˌsɛpt)

maths

a point at which two figures intersect
the distance from the origin to the point at which a line, curve, or surface cuts a coordinate axis
an intercepted segment

sport, US and Canadian the act of intercepting an opponent's pass

Derived forms of intercept

interception, nouninterceptive, adjective

Word Origin for intercept

C16: from Latin intercipere to seize before arrival, from inter- + capere to take

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for intercept

intercept

[ ĭn′tər-sĕpt′ ]

In a Cartesian coordinate system, the coordinate of a point at which a line, curve, or surface intersects a coordinate axis. If a curve intersects the x-axis at (4,0), then 4 is the curve's x-intercept; if the curve intersects the y-axis at (0,2), then 2 is its y-intercept.

intercept

Origin of intercept

OTHER WORDS FROM intercept

Words nearby intercept

Words related to intercept

How to use intercept in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for intercept

Derived forms of intercept

Word Origin for intercept

Scientific definitions for intercept