interceptor

UK: /ˌɪntəˈsɛptə/ US: (in′tər sep′tər)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

in•ter•cep•tor  (in′tər sep′tər), n. 

1. a person or thing that intercepts.
2. Military a fighter aircraft with fast-reaction capabilities, used to identify and, if appropriate, engage other aircraft in combat.

Also, in′ter•cept′er. 

• Latin, equivalent. to intercep- (see intercept) + -tor -tor²
• 1590–1600

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

interceptor, intercepter / ˌɪntəˈsɛptə/ noun

1. a person or thing that intercepts
2. a fast highly manoeuvrable fighter aircraft used to intercept enemy aircraft

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

in•ter•cept /v. ˌɪntɚˈsɛpt; n. ˈɪntɚˌsɛpt/   v. [~ + object]

1. to seize or halt (someone or something on the way from one place to another):
   to intercept a messenger.
2. Sport to take possession of (a ball or puck) during a pass by the opposing team:
   intercepted three of his first five passes.

n. [countable]

3. an act of intercepting.
4. Military, Government an intercepted message.

in•ter•cep•tion, n. 

[uncountable] More interception of enemy signals is now possible.

[countable] three interceptions out of his first five passes.

in•ter•cep•tor, n. [countable] See -cep-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

in•ter•cept  (v. in′tər sept′;n. in′tər sept′), v.t. 

1. to take, seize, or halt (someone or something on the way from one place to another);
   cut off from an intended destination:
   to intercept a messenger.
2. to see or overhear (a message, transmission, etc., meant for another):
   We intercepted the enemy's battle plan.
3. to stop or check (passage, travel, etc.):
   to intercept the traitor's escape.
4. Sport to take possession of (a ball or puck) during an attempted pass by an opposing team.
5. to stop or interrupt the course, progress, or transmission of.
6. to destroy or disperse (enemy aircraft or a missile or missiles) in the air on the way to a target.
7. to stop the natural course of (light, water, etc.).
8. Mathematics to mark off or include, as between two points or lines.
9. to intersect.
10. [Obs.] to prevent or cut off the operation or effect of.
11. [Obs.] to cut off from access, sight, etc.

n. 

12. an interception.
13. [Math.]
    • Mathematics an intercepted segment of a line.
    • Mathematics (in a coordinate system) the distance from the origin to the point at which a curve or line intersects an axis.

• Latin interceptus past participle of intercipere, equivalent. to inter- inter- + -cep- (combining form of cap-, stem of capere to take) + -tus past participle suffix; compare incipient
• 1535–45

in′ter•cep′tive, adj.