intersect
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
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to cross, as lines or wires.
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Geometry. to have one or more points in common.
intersecting lines.
verb
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to divide, cut, or mark off by passing through or across
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(esp of roads) to cross (each other)
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maths (often foll by with) to have one or more points in common (with another configuration)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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nonintersectingadjective
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self-intersectingadjective
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unintersectedadjective
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unintersectingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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intersectsimple
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intersectssimple
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have intersectedperfect
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has intersectedperfect
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am intersectingprogressive
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are intersectingprogressive
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is intersectingprogressive
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have been intersectingperfect progressive
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has been intersectingperfect progressive
Past
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intersectedsimple
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had intersectedperfect
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was intersectingprogressive
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were intersectingprogressive
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had been intersectingperfect progressive
Future
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."
Vocabulary lists containing intersect
This Week in Words: April 1 - 6, 2018
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Algebra
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Geometry - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Google this year paid $4.75 billion to acquire Intersect, a wind and solar developer that in recent years pivoted to building such projects to support data centers.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026
Intersect Chief Executive Sheldon Kimber said energy has become core to companies’ efforts to develop more powerful AI models.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026
Alphabet agreed to buy Intersect Power for $4.75 billion, including debt.
From Barron's • Dec. 27, 2025
Alphabet agreed to buy Intersect Power for $4.75 billion, including debt.
From Barron's • Dec. 27, 2025
Intersect, in-tėr-sekt′, v.t. to cut between or asunder: to cut or cross mutually: to divide into parts.—v.i. to cross each other.—n.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
