interrupt

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

CIDE DICTIONARY

interrupt, v. t. [L. interruptus, p. p. of interrumpere to interrupt; inter between + rumpere to break. See Rupture.].

•  To break into, or between; to stop, or hinder by breaking in upon the course or progress of; to interfere with the current or motion of; to cause a temporary cessation of; as, to interrupt the remarks of anyone speaking.  [1913 Webster]

  "Do not interrupt me in my course."  [1913 Webster]
•  To divide; to separate; to break the monotony of; as, the evenness of the road was not interrupted by a single hill.  [1913 Webster]

interrupt, p. a. [L. interruptus, p. p.].

 Broken; interrupted.  Milton.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

interrupt, v.tr.
1 act so as to break the continuous progress of (an action, speech, a person speaking, etc.).
2 obstruct (a person's view etc.).
3 break the continuity of.

Derivative

interruptible adj. interruption n. interruptive adj. interruptory adj.

Etymology

ME f. L interrumpere interrupt- (as INTER-, rumpere break)

THESAURUS

interrupt

arrest, barge in, blow it, bottle up, break, break in, break in on, break off, butt in, cease, check, chime in, chip in, countercheck, curb, cut in, cut off, cut short, dam up, damp, dampen, defer, delay, detain, disarrange, discontinue, disjoin, disrupt, disturb, end, go off half-cocked, halt, hinder, hold back, hold in check, hold up, horn in, impede, inhibit, intercept, interfere, interfere with, intermeddle, intermit, intervene, intrude, keep back, keep in check, meddle, oppose, postpone, punctuate, put in, repress, resist, restrain, retard, scotch, set back, slacken, snap the thread, snub, speak inopportunely, speak too late, stall, stay, stop, suppress, suspend, take a break, terminate

ROGET THESAURUS

interrupt

Discontinuity

VB be discontinuous, alternate, intermit, sputter, stop and start, hesitate, discontinue, pause, interrupt, intervene, break, break in upon, break off, interpose, break the thread, snap the thread, disconnect, dissever.

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.

Cessation

VB cease, discontinue, desist, stay, halt, break off, leave off, hold, stop, pull up, stop short, stick, hang fire, halt, pause, rest, burn out, blow out, melt down, have done with, give over, surcease, shut up shop, give up, hold one's hand, stay one's hand, rest on one's oars repose on one's laurels, come to a stand, come to a standstill, come to a deadlock, come to a full stop, arrive, go out, die away, wear away, wear off, pass away, be at an end, disintegrate, self-destruct, intromit, interrupt, suspend, interpel, intermit, remit, put an end to, put a stop to, put a period to, derail, turn off, switch off, power down, deactivate, disconnect, bring to a stand, bring to a standstill, stop, cut short, arrest, stem the tide, stem the torrent, pull the check-string, pull the plug on, Int, hold!, stop!, enough!, avast!, have done!, a truce to!, soft!, leave off!, tenez!.