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interrupted

 - 4 dictionary results

in⋅ter⋅rupt⋅ed

  [in-tuh-ruhp-tid]
Use interrupted in a Sentence
–adjective Botany.
having an irregular or discontinuous arrangement, as of leaflets along a stem.
Origin:
interrupt + -ed 2

in⋅ter⋅rupt

  [v. in-tuh-ruhpt; n. in-tuh-ruhpt]
–verb (used with object)
1. to cause or make a break in the continuity or uniformity of (a course, process, condition, etc.).
2. to break off or cause to cease, as in the middle of something: He interrupted his work to answer the bell.
3. to stop (a person) in the midst of doing or saying something, esp. by an interjected remark: May I interrupt you to comment on your last remark?
–verb (used without object)
4. to cause a break or discontinuance; interfere with action or speech, esp. by interjecting a remark: Please don't interrupt.
–noun
5. Computers. a hardware signal that breaks the flow of program execution and transfers control to a predetermined storage location so that another procedure can be followed or a new operation carried out.
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME interrupten < L interruptus ptp. of interrumpere to break apart, equiv. to inter- inter- + rup-, var. s. of rumpere to burst + -tus ptp. suffix; see rupture

Related forms:
in⋅ter⋅rupt⋅ed⋅ly, adverb
in⋅ter⋅rupt⋅ed⋅ness, noun
in⋅ter⋅rupt⋅i⋅ble, adjective
in⋅ter⋅rup⋅tive, adjective

Synonyms:
1, 3. intermit. Interrupt, discontinue, suspend imply breaking off something temporarily or permanently. Interrupt may have either meaning: to interrupt a meeting. To discontinue is to stop or leave off, often permanently: to discontinue a building program. To suspend is to break off relations, operations, proceedings, privileges, etc., for a certain period of time, usually with the stipulation that they will be resumed at a stated time: to suspend operations during a strike.

Antonyms:
1, 2. continue.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To interrupted
in·ter·rupt   (ĭn'tə-rŭpt')   
v.   in·ter·rupt·ed, in·ter·rupt·ing, in·ter·rupts

v.   tr.

  1. To break the continuity or uniformity of: Rain interrupted our baseball game.

  2. To hinder or stop the action or discourse of (someone) by breaking in on: The baby interrupted me while I was on the phone.

v.   intr.
To break in on an action or discourse.
n.   Computer Science

  1. A signal to a computer that stops the execution of a running program so that another action can be performed.

  2. A circuit that conveys a signal stopping the execution of a running program.


[Middle English interrupten, from Old French interrupte, interrupted, from Latin interruptus, past participle of interrumpere, to break off : inter-, inter- + rumpere, to break; see reup- in Indo-European roots.]
in'ter·rupt'i·ble adj., in'ter·rup'tion n., in'ter·rup'tive adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

interrupt 
c.1420, from L. interruptus, pp. of interrumpere "break apart, break off," from inter- "between" + rumpere "to break" (see rupture, and compare corrupt).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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