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 stop (someone engaged in an activity) by saying or doing something: The baby interrupted me while I was on the phone. v.intr. To cause an activity to stop by saying or doing something. n. Computers 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 the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] in′ter·rupti·ble adj. in′ter·ruption n. in′ter·ruptive adj. |
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