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in·ter·fere
 interfere
- pronunciation:
- In
t
 r
fir
- features:
- Word History
| part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
| inflections: |
interfered, interferes, interfering |
| definition 1: |
to be or come between with the effect of hampering or impeding (usu. fol. by with).
His work interferes with his ability to spend time with his family.Talking on the telephone can interfere with safe driving.- synonyms:
- block, hamper, hinder, impede, obstruct
- similar words:
- impair, inhibit, intervene, thwart
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| definition 2: |
to intrude or show an unwelcome interest, esp. in the affairs of others; meddle (usu. fol. by with or in).
The other team got a home run because a fan interfered in the play.My mother-in-law was always interfering in our lives.He threatened the man for interfering with his daughter.- synonyms:
- butt in, intrude, meddle
- similar words:
- intervene, kibitz, nose, poke
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| definition 3: |
in sports, to impede the movement of the ball or an opponent in a prohibited way.
- similar words:
- block
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| definition 4: |
in physics and electronics, to generate interference, esp. with another wave or signal.
- similar words:
- jam, scramble
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| related words: |
block, mess, pry, tamper |
| derivations: |
interferingly (adv.), interferer (n.) |
Interfere comes from an early French word that means "to strike or knock together." The French word referred to the horseshoe striking the lower part of a horse's leg, which would interfere with the horse's gait.
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