[syn: interface, port]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
interface \interface\ n.
1. a surface forming a common boundary between two things,
especially between two fluids. [WordNet sense 1]
[WordNet 1.5]
2. (Computers) hardware that links one device with another
(especially a computer). [WordNet sense 2]
[WordNet 1.5]
3. (Computers) That part of a computer program which controls
the way a program interacts with a user; the manner of
inputting and outputting of data, and the way information
is presented on a computer monitor; also called user
interface; as, a graphical user interface; a
character-based interface.
[PJC]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
interface
n 1: (chemistry) a surface forming a common boundary between two
things (two objects or liquids or chemical phases)
2: (computer science) a program that controls a display for the
user (usually on a computer monitor) and that allows the user
to interact with the system [syn: interface, user
interface]
3: the overlap where two theories or phenomena affect each other
or have links with each other; "the interface between
chemistry and biology"
4: (computer science) computer circuit consisting of the
hardware and associated circuitry that links one device with
another (especially a computer and a hard disk drive or other
peripherals) [syn: interface, port]
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (19 January 2023):
interface
A boundary across which two systems communicate. An
interface might be a hardware connector used to link to other
devices, or it might be a convention used to allow
communication between two software systems. Often there is
some intermediate component between the two systems which
connects their interfaces together. For example, two EIA-232
interfaces connected via a serial cable.
See also graphical user interface, Application Program
Interface.
(1996-05-22)