intercept

Borrowed from Latin interceptum, past participle of intercipiō.

Verb

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: ĭntəsĕpt', IPA^(key): /ɪntəˈsɛpt/
• (US) enPR: ĭntərsĕpt', IPA^(key): /ɪntɚˈsɛpt/

Noun

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: ĭn'təsĕpt, IPA^(key): /ˈɪntəsɛpt/
• (US) enPR: ĭn'tərsĕpt, IPA^(key): /ˈɪntɚsɛpt/
• Rhymes: -ɛpt

intercept (third-person singular simple present intercepts, present participle intercepting, simple past and past participle intercepted)

1. (transitive) To stop, deflect or divert (something in progress or motion).

   The police intercepted the package of stolen goods while it was in transit.

   • 1749, [John Cleland], Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure [Fanny Hill], London: Printed [by Thomas Parker] for G. Fenton [i.e., Fenton and Ralph Griffiths] […], OCLC 731622352:

     ...and made every vein of my body circulate liquid fires: the emotion grew so violent that it almost intercepted my respiration.

2. (transitive, sports) To gain possession of (the ball) in a ball game
   1. (transitive, American football) Of a defensive player: to steal a pass thrown by the opposing team, gaining possession of the ball.
3. (transitive, mathematics) To take or comprehend between.

intercept (plural intercepts)

1. An interception of a radio broadcast or a telephone call.
2. An interception of a missile.
3. (algebraic geometry) The coordinate of the point at which a curve intersects an axis.
   • 2012, Alice Kaseberg, Greg Cripe, Peter Wildman, Introductory Algebra: Everyday Explorations, page 278

     Because the horizontal-axis intercept occurs when y=0 and the vertical-axis intercept occurs when x=0, we can find the intercepts algebraically.

4. (marketing) A form of market research where consumers are intercepted and interviewed in a retail store or mall.

• (an interception of a radio broadcast or a telephone call): bug