interceptions
|in-ter-cep-tions|
🇺🇸
/ˌɪn.tɚˈsɛp.ʃənz/
🇬🇧
/ˌɪn.təˈsɛp.ʃənz/
(interception)
seize/take before arrival
Etymology
'interception' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'intercipere,' where 'inter-' meant 'between' and 'capere' (from 'capere') meant 'to take.'
'interception' changed from Old French 'intercepcioun' and Middle English 'interceptioun' and eventually became the modern English word 'interception.'
Initially it meant 'to seize or take between,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'the act of stopping, seizing, or taking something on its way to a destination.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act of stopping, seizing, or taking something (such as a message, signal, or shipment) before it reaches its intended destination.
The military reported several interceptions of enemy communications.
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Noun 2
in team sports, an instance in which a player catches or takes possession of a pass intended for an opposing teammate (a turnover).
The quarterback's poor throw led to two interceptions.
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Noun 3
the unauthorized or law-enforcement monitoring or capturing of communications or signals (e.g., wiretaps, signal interception).
Authorities justified certain interceptions of phone traffic to prevent terrorist plots.
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Last updated: 2026/01/03 02:52