intercept

[in-ter-sept, in-ter-sept]

verb (used with object)

1. 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.

2. to see or overhear (a message, transmission, etc., meant for another).

   We intercepted the enemy's battle plan.

3. to stop or check (passage, travel, etc.).

   to intercept the traitor's escape.

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

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

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

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

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

9. to intersect.

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

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

noun

1. an interception.

2. Mathematics.

   1. an intercepted segment of a line.

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

intercept

verb

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

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

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

noun

1. maths

   1. a point at which two figures intersect

   2. the distance from the origin to the point at which a line, curve, or surface cuts a coordinate axis

   3. an intercepted segment

2. sport the act of intercepting an opponent's pass

intercept

1. 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.

Other Word Forms

• interceptive adjective
• interception noun
• nonintercepting adjective
• noninterceptive adjective
• unintercepted adjective
• unintercepting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of intercept¹

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; inter-; incipient

Word History and Origins

Origin of intercept¹

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

Example Sentences

On their second snap, Herbert threw a short pass to his left that apparently was intercepted by diving cornerback Isaiah Rodgers and returned for an 18-yard touchdown.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

More than 60,000 were intercepted and sent back to African shores, while nearly 2,000 lost their lives at sea.

Read more on BBC

"About 80% of the intelligence the US uses to intercept drugs in the Caribbean comes from Colombia."

Read more on BBC

None of this means that France is abandoning its commitment to patrol its beaches, or to intercept the smugglers and their boats on land.

Read more on BBC

And the military has much better jamming technology now, so many of their drones are being intercepted.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• ambush 
• arrest 
• block 
• catch 
• cut off 
• deflect 
• hijack 
• prevent 
• seize 
• stop 
• take away