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Webster's New World College Dictionary » intercept
intercept
intercept definition
in·ter·cept (in′tər sept′; for n. in′tər sept′)
transitive verb
- 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
- Now Rare
- to stop, hinder, or prevent
- to cut off communication with, sight of, etc.
- 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
- the act of intercepting
- the fact or condition of being intercepted
- a message intercepted during electronic or radio transmission
- Math. the part of a line, plane, etc. intercepted
- Mil. the act of intercepting an enemy force, esp. enemy aircraft
Related Forms:
- interceptive in′·ter·cep′·tive adjective
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