intercept
Americanverb (used with object)
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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.
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to see or overhear (a message, transmission, etc., meant for another).
We intercepted the enemy's battle plan.
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to stop or check (passage, travel, etc.).
to intercept the traitor's escape.
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Sports. to take possession of (a ball or puck) during an attempted pass by an opposing team.
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to stop or interrupt the course, progress, or transmission of.
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to destroy or disperse (enemy aircraft or a missile or missiles) in the air on the way to a target.
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to stop the natural course of (light, water, etc.).
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Mathematics. to mark off or include, as between two points or lines.
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to intersect.
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Obsolete. to prevent or cut off the operation or effect of.
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Obsolete. to cut off from access, sight, etc.
noun
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an interception.
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Mathematics.
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an intercepted segment of a line.
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(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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verb
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to stop, deflect, or seize on the way from one place to another; prevent from arriving or proceeding
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sport to seize or cut off (a pass) on its way from one opponent to another
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maths to cut off, mark off, or bound (some part of a line, curve, plane, or surface)
noun
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maths
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a point at which two figures intersect
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the distance from the origin to the point at which a line, curve, or surface cuts a coordinate axis
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an intercepted segment
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sport the act of intercepting an opponent's pass
Other Word Forms
- interception noun
- interceptive adjective
- nonintercepting adjective
- noninterceptive adjective
- unintercepted adjective
- unintercepting adjective
Etymology
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; inter-; incipient
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.
Qatar's defence ministry said it had intercepted several missile attacks targeting the Gulf state.
From Barron's
"Authorities confirm that a drone was intercepted and debris caused a minor fire on the Burj Al Arab's outer facade," the Dubai Media Office wrote on X.
From Barron's
Israeli air defenses intercepted missiles over northern Israel, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
US fighters jets, which have been sent to the region, are also capable of intercepting drones and missiles.
From BBC
People still out exercising or running errands shared video of intercepts and damage in the city’s ubiquitous chat groups.
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.
