Adjacent Words

Interrupt definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

INTERRUPT', v.t. [L. interrumpo, interruptus; inter and rumpo, to break.]
1. To stop or hinder by breaking in upon the course or progress of any thing; to break the current or motion of; as a fall of rain interrupted our journey. There was not a tree nor a bush to interrupt the charge of the enemy. The speaker was interrupted by shouts of acclamation. We apply the word both to the agent and to his progress. We say, an alarm interrupted the speaker, or his arguments or discourse.
2. To divide; to separate; to break continuity or a continued series. The road was on a plain, not interrupted by a single hill, or interrupted here and there by a hill.
INTERRUPT', a. Broken; containing a chasm.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a signal that temporarily stops the execution of a program so that another procedure can be carried out v
1: make a break in; "We interrupt the program for the following messages" [syn: interrupt, disrupt, break up, cut off]
2: destroy the peace or tranquility of; "Don't interrupt me when I'm reading" [syn: interrupt, disturb]
3: interfere in someone else's activity; "Please don't interrupt me while I'm on the phone" [syn: interrupt, disrupt]
4: terminate; "She interrupted her pregnancy"; "break a lucky streak"; "break the cycle of poverty" [syn: interrupt, break]

Merriam Webster's

I. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Latin interruptus, past participle of interrumpere, from inter- + rumpere to break — more at reave Date: 15th century transitive verb 1. to stop or hinder by breaking in <interrupted the speaker with frequent questions> 2. to break the uniformity or continuity of <a hot spell occasionally interrupted by a period of cool weather> intransitive verb to break in upon an action; especially to break in with questions or remarks while another is speaking • interruptible adjective • interruption noun • interruptive adverb II. noun Date: 1957 a feature of a computer that permits the temporary interruption of one activity (as the execution of a program) in order to perform another; also the interruption itself

Oxford Reference Dictionary

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. Derivatives: interruptible adj. interruption n. interruptive adj. interruptory adj. Etymology: ME f. L interrumpere interrupt- (as INTER-, rumpere break)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Interrupt In`ter*rupt", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Interrupted; p. pr. & vb. n. Interrupting.] [L. interruptus, p. p. of interrumpere to interrupt; inter between + rumpere to break. See Rupture.] 1. 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 speaking. Do not interrupt me in my course. --Shak. 2. To divide; to separate; to break the monotony of; as, the evenness of the road was not interrupted by a single hill.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Interrupt In`ter*rupt", p. a. [L. interruptus, p. p.] Broken; interrupted. [Obs.] --Milton.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(interrupts, interrupting, interrupted) 1. If you interrupt someone who is speaking, you say or do something that causes them to stop. Turkin tapped him on the shoulder. 'Sorry to interrupt, Colonel.'... He tried to speak, but she interrupted him. VERB: V, V n • interruption (interruptions) The sudden interruption stopped Beryl in mid-flow. N-VAR 2. If someone or something interrupts a process or activity, they stop it for a period of time. He has rightly interrupted his holiday in Spain to return to London... VERB: V n • interruption ...interruptions in the supply of food and fuel... = disruption N-VAR: oft N in/to n 3. If something interrupts a line, surface, or view, it stops it from being continuous or makes it look irregular. Taller plants interrupt the views from the house. VERB: V n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

v. a. 1. Disturb, stop, break, hinder, cause to delay, cause to cease, interfere with, break in upon, hinder from proceeding. 2. Separate, divide, break, disconnect, disunite, disjoin, sunder, dissever, sever, cut, dissolve. 3. Intermit, suspend, discontinue, break off, leave off, cease for a time.

Moby Thesaurus

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