interruption definition | Dictionary.com

in⋅ter⋅rup⋅tion

[in-tuh-ruhp-shuh

–noun

1.	an act or instance of interrupting.

2.	the state of being interrupted.

3.	something that interrupts.

4.	cessation; intermission.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME interrupcio(u)n < L interruptiōn- (s. of interruptiō). See interrupt, -ion

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Language Translation for : interruption

Spanish:

interrupción,

German:

die Unterbrechung,

Japanese:

中断

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in·ter·rupt   (ĭn'tə-rŭpt') Pronunciation Key
v.   in·ter·rupt·ed, in·ter·rupt·ing, in·ter·rupts

v.   tr.

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

A signal to a computer that stops the execution of a running program so that another action can be performed.
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 © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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interruption
noun
1.	an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity; "it was presented without commercial breaks"; "there was a gap in his account" [syn: break]
2.	some abrupt occurrence that interrupts an ongoing activity; "the telephone is an annoying interruption"; "there was a break in the action when a player was hurt"
3.	a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something [syn: pause]

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Interruption

In`ter*rup"tion\, n. [L. interruptio: cf. F. interruption.]

1. The act of interrupting, or breaking in upon.

2. The state of being interrupted; a breach or break, caused by the abrupt intervention of something foreign; intervention; interposition. --Sir M. Hale.

Lest the interruption of time cause you to lose the idea of one part. --Dryden.

3. Obstruction caused by breaking in upon course, current, progress, or motion; stop; hindrance; as, the author has met with many interruptions in the execution of his work; the speaker or the argument proceeds without interruption.

4. Temporary cessation; intermission; suspension.

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