English Explanatory Dictionary

interference

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The act of interfering with something, or something that interferes.
  2. The illegal obstruction of an opponent in some ball games.
  3. An effect caused by the superposition of two systems of waves.
  4. A distortion on a broadcast signal due to atmospheric or other effects.
  5. In United States patent law, an inter partes proceeding to determine the priority issues of multiple patent applications; a priority contest.
  6. The interruption of the line between an attacked piece and its defender by sacrificially interposing a piece.
  7. A negative or inappropriate language transfer.
verb
  1. To interfere.

Pronunciation

/ˌɪntə(ɹ)ˈfɪəɹəns/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-interference.wav /ˌɪntəɹˈfɪɹɪns/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Simplificationalizer-interference.wav

Word forms

interference interferences interferencing interferenced

Etymology

From interfere + -ence. The sense in physics was likely introduced by English polymath Thomas Young, which he used as early as 1801 in a paper in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.

Antonyms

noninterference

Derived words

biointerference catastrophic interference catcher interference catcher's interference co-channel interference conducted interference constructive interference destructive interference interference drag interference filter interference fit interference fringes interference maximum interference microscope interference pattern negative interference pan-assay interference compound positive interference quantum interference RNA interference run interference thin-film interference tortious interference
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