intercept

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: in=ter=cept

CIDE DICTIONARY

intercept, v. t. [L. interceptus, p. p. of intercipere to intercept; inter between + capere to take, seize: cf. F. intercepter. See Capable.].

•  To take or seize by the way, or before arrival at the destined place; to cause to stop on the passage; as, to intercept a letter; a telegram will intercept him at Paris.  [1913 Webster]

  "God will shortly intercept your breath."  [1913 Webster]
•  To obstruct or interrupt the progress of; to stop; to hinder or oppose; as, to intercept the current of a river.  [1913 Webster]

  "Who intercepts me in my expedition?"  [1913 Webster]

  "We must meet first, and intercept his course."  [1913 Webster]
•  To interrupt communication with, or progress toward; to cut off, as the destination; to blockade.  [1913 Webster]

  "While storms vindictive intercept the shore."  [1913 Webster]
•  To include between; as, that part of the line which is intercepted between the points A and B.
•  To overhear or view (a communication or message intended for another), without hindering its passage; as, to intercept a telephone call.  [PJC]
•  To catch and take possession of (a ball passed between members of an opposing team); as, the back intercepted the pass and ran the ball back for a touchdown.  [PJC]

Syn. -- To cut off; stop; catch; seize; obstruct.

intercept, n. 

 A part cut off or intercepted, as a portion of a line included between two points, or cut off two straight lines or curves.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

intercept, v. & n.
--v.tr.
1 seize, catch, or stop (a person, message, vehicle, ball, etc.) going from one place to another.
2 (usu. foll. by from) cut off (light etc.).
3 check or stop (motion etc.).
4 Math. mark off (a space) between two points etc.
--n. Math. the part of a line between two points of intersection with usu. the coordinate axes or other lines.

Derivative

interception n. interceptive adj.

Etymology

L intercipere intercept- (as INTER-, capere take)

THESAURUS

intercept

arrest, attend, attend to, auscultate, be all ears, bend an ear, block, bottle up, bug, catch, check, cock the ears, countercheck, curb, cut off, dam up, damp, dampen, deflect, delay, detain, eavesdrop, examine by ear, give attention, give audience to, give ear, grab, hark, head off, hear, hear out, hearken, heed, hinder, hold back, hold in check, hold up, impede, inhibit, interfere, interfere with, intermeddle, interrupt, intervene, keep back, keep in check, lend an ear, listen, listen at, listen in, listen to, meddle, oppose, repress, resist, restrain, retard, scotch, seize, set back, sit in on, slacken, snub, stop, suppress, take, tap, trap, wiretap

ROGET THESAURUS

intercept

Hindrance

VB hinder, impede, filibuster, impedite, embarrass, keep off, stave off, ward off, obviate, avert, antevert, turn aside, draw off, prevent, forefend, nip in the bud, retard, slacken, check, let, counteract, countercheck, preclude, debar, foreclose, estop, inhibit, shackle, restrict, obstruct, stop, stay, bar, bolt, lock, block, block up, choke off, belay, barricade, block the way, bar the way, stop the way, forelay, dam up, put on the brake, scotch the wheel, lock the wheel, put a spoke in the wheel, put a stop to, traverse, contravene, interrupt, intercept, oppose, hedge in, hedge round, cut off, inerclude, interpose, interfere, intermeddle, cramp, hamper, clog, clog the wheels, cumber, encumber, incumber, handicap, choke, saddle with, load with, overload, lay, lumber, trammel, tie one's hands, put to inconvenience, incommode, discommode, discompose, hustle, corner, drive into a corner, run foul of, fall foul of, cross the path of, break in upon, thwart, frustrate, disconcert, balk, foil, faze, feaze, feeze, baffle, snub, override, circumvent, defeat, spike guns, spoil, mar, clip the wings of, cripple, put an extinguisher on, damp, dishearten, discountenance, throw cold water on, spoil sport, lay a wet blanket, throw a wet blanket on, cut the ground from under one, take the wind out of one's sails, undermine, be in the way of, stand in the way of, act as a drag, hang like a millstone round one's neck.

Taking

VB take, catch, hook, nab, bag, sack, pocket, put into one's pocket, receive, accept, reap, crop, cull, pluck, gather, draw, appropriate, expropriate, impropriate, assume, possess oneself of, take possession of, commandeer, lay one's hands on, clap one's hands on, help oneself to, make free with, dip one's hands into, lay under contribution, intercept, scramble for, deprive of, take away, carry away, bear away, take off, carry off, bear off, adeem, abstract, hurry off with, run away with, abduct, steal, ravish, seize, pounce upon, spring upon, swoop to, swoop down upon, take by storm, take by assault, snatch, reave, snap up, nip up, whip up, catch up, kidnap, crimp, capture, lay violent hands on, get hold of, lay hold of, take hold of, catch hold of, lay fast hold of, take firm hold of, lay by the heels, take prisoner, fasten upon, grip, grapple, embrace, gripe, clasp, grab, clutch, collar, throttle, take by the throat, claw, clinch, clench, make sure of, catch at, jump at, make a grab at, snap at, snatch at, reach, make a long arm, stretch forth one's hand, take from, take away from, disseize, deduct, retrench, dispossess, ease one of, snatch from one's grasp, tear from, tear away from, wrench from, wrest from, wring from, extort, deprive of, bereave, disinherit, cut off with a shilling, oust, divest, levy, distrain, confiscate, sequester, sequestrate, accroach, usurp, despoil, strip, fleece, shear, displume, impoverish, eat out of house and home, drain, drain to the dregs, gut, dry, exhaust, swallow up, absorb, draw off, suck the blood of, suck like a leech, retake, resume, recover.