VOOZH about

URL: https://www.wordreference.com/definition/intercept

⇱ intercept - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

intercept

Listen:

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˌɪntərˈsɛpt/

US:USA pronunciation: IPAUSA pronunciation: IPA/v. ˌɪntɚˈsɛpt; n. ˈɪntɚˌsɛpt/

US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(v. in′tər sept′; n. in′tər sept′)



WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
in•ter•cept /v. ˌɪntɚˈsɛpt; n. ˈɪntɚˌsɛpt/USA pronunciation   v. [~ + object]
  1. to seize or halt (someone or something on the way from one place to another):to intercept a messenger.
  2. Sportto take possession of (a ball or puck) during a pass by the opposing team:intercepted three of his first five passes.

n. [countable]
  1. an act of intercepting.
  2. Military, Governmentan intercepted message.
in•ter•cep•tion, n. [uncountable]More interception of enemy signals is now possible.[countable]three interceptions out of his first five passes.
in•ter•cep•tor, n. [countable]See -cep-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
in•ter•cept  (v. in′tər sept′;n. in′tər sept′),USA pronunciation v.t. 
  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. Sportto 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. Mathematicsto mark off or include, as between two points or lines.
  9. to intersect.
  10. [Obs.]to prevent or cut off the operation or effect of.
  11. [Obs.]to cut off from access, sight, etc.

n. 
  1. an interception.
  2. [Math.]
    • Mathematicsan intercepted segment of a line.
    • Mathematics(in a coordinate system) the distance from the origin to the point at which a curve or line intersects an axis.
  • Latin interceptus past participle of intercipere, equivalent. to inter- inter- + -cep- (combining form of cap-, stem of capere to take) + -tus past participle suffix; compare incipient
  • 1535–45
in′ter•cep′tive, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
intercept vb /ˌɪntəˈsɛpt/ (transitive)
  1. to stop, deflect, or seize on the way from one place to another; prevent from arriving or proceeding
  2. to seize or cut off (a pass) on its way from one opponent to another
  3. to cut off, mark off, or bound (some part of a line, curve, plane, or surface)
 n /ˈɪntəˌsɛpt/
    • a point at which two figures intersect
    • the distance from the origin to the point at which a line, curve, or surface cuts a coordinate axis
  2. US Canadian the act of intercepting an opponent's pass
Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin intercipere to seize before arrival, from inter- + capere to takeˌinterˈception n ˌinterˈceptive adj
'intercept' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Advertisements
Advertisements
Report an inappropriate ad.
WordReference.com
WORD OF THE DAY
GET THE DAILY EMAIL!
Become a WordReference Supporter to view the site ad-free.
Firefox users: use search shortcuts for the fastest search of WordReference.
Copyright © 2026 WordReference.com
Please report any problems.