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 calledproduct 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

/ ĭn′tər-sĕk′shən /

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

Derived Forms

• ˌinterˈsectional, adjective

Other Words From

• inter·section·al adjective
• nonin·ter·section·al 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

So the extra credit was really asking for the points of intersection between the topmost curves from Mike’s graph.

From FiveThirtyEight

The cohomology theories that produce these intersection numbers may do more than just ease a computational burden — they could also point to the physical significance of the most important quantities in the calculation.

From Quanta Magazine

This is also the case of the current Sports Arena RFP for the 48 acres located at the intersection of the 5 and 8 freeways.

From Voice of San Diego

Those who’ve followed me since my early blogging days know I’m obsessed with the intersection at the heart of three questions.

From Singularity Hub 

Which is to say, the intersection point corresponded exactly to the four vertices of a rectangle on the curve.

From Quanta Magazine

And also probably because this fool stopped at a red light in the middle of an intersection.

From The Daily Beast

Something extraordinary is happening at the intersection of religion and LGBT people.

From The Daily Beast

Some of the pre-eminent innovators at the intersection of art and coding are based at the Aesthetics and Computation Group at MIT.

From The Daily Beast

The RIP offers a clear window into the intersection of poverty and vermin.

From The Daily Beast

My Life and Living History hit the perfect intersection of news and gossip, and people who salivate for both bought those books.

From The Daily Beast

The point F is determined by the intersection of the two lines, one beginning at A, and the other at E.

From Project Gutenberg

Past the intersection, past the one beyond that, on up the thoroughfare until the gray haze of the city dimmed everything.

From Project Gutenberg

The big and beneficent institution is in Rue Saint-Jacques, at its intersection with the street named in his honor.

From Project Gutenberg

The minor and major axes are at a right angle one to the other, and their point of intersection is termed the axis of the ellipse.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus are formed in this chart four specimens of the Swastika, with the cross and circle at the intersection of the arms.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• crossing
• interchange
• junction