interfaces
|in-ter-face-ses|
🇺🇸
/ˈɪn.tɚ.feɪs/
🇬🇧
/ˈɪn.tə.feɪs/
(interface)
point of interaction
Etymology
'interface' originates from Latin and Old French, specifically the Latin elements 'inter' and 'facies', where 'inter-' meant 'between' and 'facies' meant 'face' or 'surface'.
'interface' changed from Medieval/early modern uses combining Latin 'inter-' + Old French 'face/face' (or Medieval Latin forms like 'interfacies') and entered English in roughly the 19th century as 'interface', keeping the compound structure.
Initially it referred to a physical surface or face between two things; over time it evolved to mean a general boundary or point of contact for interaction, and in the 20th century took on technical senses in computing (APIs, UIs) and systems integration.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a point, surface, or boundary where two systems, subjects, organizations, or devices meet and interact (physical or conceptual contact point).
The device has multiple interfaces for different peripherals.
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Noun 2
a defined set of operations, protocols, or commands that allow different software or hardware components to communicate (computing: API, hardware ports, etc.).
Application interfaces let programs exchange data securely.
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Noun 3
the means by which a user interacts with a computer, application, or device (user interface).
Modern smartphones have intuitive interfaces.
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Verb 1
to connect or link two systems, devices, or components so they can work together or exchange information.
This software interfaces with legacy systems to import data.
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Verb 2
to communicate or interact with people, departments, or organizations.
She interfaces with clients to gather requirements.
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Last updated: 2025/10/06 23:56