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

CHP officers responding to the crash came upon the damaged silver Hyundai sports utility vehicle in a business parking lot, northwest of the intersection.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Belt was arrested by Manhattan Beach police at the site of the crash, which happened around 12:46 a.m. near the intersection of Sepulveda Boulevard and 2nd Street.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

And the chance to put this one to the test had arrived, for Penelope was already careening toward the intersection.

Read more on Literature

SABIO, SHALE: It’s an intersection in an unincorporated public neighborhood, Mom.

Read more on Literature

"This discovery highlights an unexpected intersection between sugar and alcohol metabolism," said Richard Johnson, MD, professor at CU Anschutz and study co-author.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

• crossing 
• interchange 
• junction