Langimage
English

interference

|in/ter/fer/ence|

B2

🇺🇸

/ˌɪntərˈfɪrəns/

🇬🇧

/ˌɪntəˈfɪərəns/

hindrance or overlap

Etymology
Etymology Information

'interference' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'interferentia,' where 'inter-' meant 'between' and 'ferre' meant 'to carry.'

Historical Evolution

'interferentia' transformed into the French word 'interférence,' and eventually became the modern English word 'interference' through Middle English.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'to carry between,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'hindering or intervening in a process.'

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

the act of intervening or hindering a process or activity.

The interference of the manager in the team's strategy was unwelcome.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Noun 2

in physics, the phenomenon where two waves superpose to form a resultant wave of greater, lower, or the same amplitude.

The interference pattern was visible on the screen.

Synonyms

Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:41