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intercept Definition

in·ter·cept (in′tər sept′; for n. in′tər sept′)

transitive verb

  1. to seize or stop on the way, before arrival at the intended place; stop or interrupt the course of; cut off to intercept a forward pass
  2. Now Rare
    1. to stop, hinder, or prevent
    2. to cut off communication with, sight of, etc.
  3. Math. to cut off, mark off, or bound between two points, lines, or planes

Etymology: < L interceptus, pp. of intercipere, to take between, interrupt < inter-, between + capere, to take: see have

noun

    1. the act of intercepting
    2. the fact or condition of being intercepted
  2. a message intercepted during electronic or radio transmission
  3. Math. the part of a line, plane, etc. intercepted
  4. Mil. the act of intercepting an enemy force, esp. enemy aircraft

intercept Related Forms
in′·ter·cep′·tive adjective
intercept Synonyms

intercept

v.

cut off, head off, stop, ambush, block, catch, seize midway, take away, interpose, appropriate, interlope, make off with, hijack; see also hinder, prevent.

intercept Usage Examples

Object

  • missile: The Arrow is designed to intercept incoming ballistic missiles in the stratosphere, far from their targets.
  • convoy: BARRINGTON's squadron which intercepted a French convoy bound for the East Indies in the Bay of Biscay during April 1782.
  • shipment: Also in 1997, an intercepted shipment from Beijing to the United States contained more than 2200 pieces.
  • sewer: Lenton was connected up to this intercepting sewer in 1875.
  • correspondence: The file includes some of Taylour's intercepted correspondence, including some that she managed to smuggle out of prison to avoid the censor.
  • drift: Major cross-shore training breakwaters constructed at the inlets of the Arun and Adur rivers have intercepted drift additionally.

Adjective modifier

  • linear: In turn point counting gave lower values than linear intercepts.

Modifies a noun

  • missile: These small satellites were intended to intercept missile warheads during the midcourse phase of their flight.
  • radar: Air Force letters to Members of Congress attributed the radar sighting to an error on the part of their Ground Control Intercept radar station.
  • communication: The purpose of the Regulations is to allow relevant parties to intercept communications, without consent, for certain legitimate purposes.
  • evidence: There are things they have not done which they must do - like making intercept evidence available in court.
  • parameter: In this case, the column of 1s representing the intercept parameter must be the first column.
  • enemy: The brigade's EW aircraft intercept enemy transmissions and provide the location of his transmitters.

Modifying Another Word

  • unlawfully: Such unlawfully intercepted e-mails cannot be used as evidence in court proceedings.

Noun used with modifier

  • boost-phase: We have also examined concepts for boost-phase intercept NMD systems.
  • y: Writing down the equation of a straight line given a diagram with a parallel line and the y intercept.
  • radio: From 1914 to the great campaigns of World War II, radio intercepts shaped the course of history.
  • wireless: The Nautical Brass site is also highly recommended as a place to find information on the secret war involving wireless intercept and codebreaking.
  • telephone: The facts of the case were that an illegal telephone intercept was made contrary to the Interception of Communications Act 1985.
  • communication: Read more about Use of communications intercept as evidence This ban was recently reviewed.