interception

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˌɪntɜrˈsɛpʃən/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    The act of intercepting or stopping something before it reaches its intended destination.; In American football, the act of a defensive player catching a pass intended for an offensive player.; The act of secretly listening to or recording a communication, such as a phone call or radio transmission.; In mathematics, the point at which a curve or line crosses an axis or another curve.; In military or aviation context, the act of detecting, tracking, and engaging an approaching aircraft or missile.; The act of seizing or taking possession of something in transit, such as contraband or illegal goods.; In sports such as soccer or basketball, the act of gaining possession of the ball by cutting off a pass from an opponent.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable / uncountable Plural: interceptions

Collocations

pass interceptioninterception of communicationsmake an interceptionradio interceptioninterception of signals

Derivatives

interceptinterceptorinterceptive

Synonyms

interceptseizurecaptureblockinginterdiction

Antonyms

releasedelivery

Commonly confused

intercept
EN: 'Intercept' is primarily a verb meaning to stop or seize something in transit; 'interception' is the noun form referring to the act or an instance of intercepting.
interdiction
EN: 'Interdiction' implies a formal prohibition or authoritative blocking, often military or legal; 'interception' is more neutral, referring to catching something in transit.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember the double 't' in 'interception' (from 'intercept' + '-ion'). Do not drop the second 't' as in *'intercepion'.

💬 Examples

  1. The interception of the enemy's supply lines was crucial to the victory.

  2. The cornerback made a spectacular interception in the end zone to prevent a touchdown.

  3. The intelligence agency was authorized to carry out the interception of suspected terrorist communications.

  4. The interception of the line with the x-axis occurs at the point (3, 0).

  5. The fighter jets were scrambled for the interception of an unidentified aircraft entering national airspace.

  6. The interception of the drug shipment at the port led to several arrests.

  7. Her quick interception of the pass allowed her to launch a fast break down the court.