Verb

• (RP) enPR: ĭntəsĕpt', IPA: /ɪntəˈsɛpt/
• (America) enPR: ĭntərsĕpt', IPA: /ɪntɚˈsɛpt/

Noun

• (RP) enPR: ĭn'təsĕpt, IPA: /ˈɪntəsɛpt/
• (America) enPR: ĭn'tərsĕpt, IPA: /ˈɪntɚsɛpt/

intercept (intercepts, present participle intercepting; 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], “(Please specify the letter or volume)”, in 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, math) To take or comprehend between.

• French: intercepter
• German: abfangen
• Portuguese: interceptar
• Russian: заде́рживать

• French: intercepter
• German: abfangen
• Portuguese: interceptar
• Russian: перехва́тывать
• Spanish: interceptar, interrumpir

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.

• Italian: intercettazione
• Russian: перехва́т

• German: Achsenabschnitt
• Russian: пересече́ние