interfere

Verb
Synonyms: intervenestep ininterpose

WordNet 3.0

Verb (2)

  1. come between so as to be hindrance or obstacle“Your talking interferes with my work!”
  2. get involved, so as to alter or hinder an action, or through force or threat of force“Why did the U.S. not intervene earlier in WW II?”Synonyms: intervenestep ininterpose
Advertisement

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Interfere \In`ter*fere"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Interfered; p. pr. & vb. n. Interfering.] [OF. entreferir to strike each other; entre between (L. inter) + OF. ferir to strike, F. f['e]rir, fr. L. ferire. See Ferula.] [1913 Webster]

1.To come in collision; to be in opposition; to clash; -- usually used with with; as, interfering claims, or commands; workers in a crowded shop may interfere with each other's activity. [1913 Webster +PJC]

2.To enter into, or take a part in, the concerns of others; to intermeddle; to interpose; -- used with in or with; as, to interfere with the way I raise my children. [1913 Webster +PJC]

To interfere with party disputes.— Swift.[1913 Webster]
There was no room for anyone to interfere with his own opinions.— Bp. Warburton.[1913 Webster]

3.To strike one foot against the opposite foot or ankle in using the legs; -- sometimes said of a human being, but usually of a horse; as, the horse interferes. [1913 Webster]

4.(Physics) To act reciprocally, so as to augment, diminish, or otherwise affect one another; -- said of waves, rays of light, heat, etc. See Interference, 2. [1913 Webster]

5.(Patent Law) To cover the same ground; to claim the same invention; as, to interfere with another patent. [1913 Webster]

Syn: To interpose; intermeddle. See Interpose. [1913 Webster]

Advertisement