interface

noun in·ter·face \ ˈin-tər-ˌfās \

Updated on: 19 Apr 2018

1 : a surface forming a common boundary of two bodies, spaces, or phases

an oil-water interface

2 a : the place at which independent and often unrelated systems meet and act on or communicate with each other

the man-machine interface

b : the means by which interaction or communication is achieved at an interface

—

interfacial

play \ˌin-tər-ˈfā-shəl\ adjective

See interface defined for English-language learners

See interface defined for kids

Examples of interface in a Sentence

the interface between engineering and science
The software has a user interface that's easy to operate.
We installed an interface between the computer and the typesetting machine.

Recent Examples of interface from the Web

Reddit has redesigned its website and the changes begin rolling out today, marking the first time in a decade that the social media network has altered its interface.

— shannon liao, The Verge, "Reddit begins rolling out first redesign in a decade," 2 Apr. 2018
Heated, cooled and massaging front seats are a class exclusive, at least for now, and the XT4 gets Cadillac’s latest infotainment system, now with a scroll knob to augment its touchscreen interface.

— gary gastelu, Fox News, "The Cadillac XT4 is aimed at Gen X," 28 Mar. 2018
So Harrison created OmniTouch (also in collaboration with Microsoft), a device worn on the shoulder that would project your phone interface onto your palm.

— david abrahams, Allure, "Human Microchipping Is Here, and It’s About to Rock Your Skin’s World," 26 Mar. 2018
Audi Connect allows access to compatible smartphone features such as navigation, telephone, music, and select third-party apps via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, controlled through the MMI interface, voice control or steering wheel controls.

— emma jayne williams, star-telegram, "Audi’s fun, sporty S5 Cabriolet gets a redesign for 2018, starts at $62,300 | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 24 Mar. 2018
This switch is my only interface with the computer.

— martin e. blair, Scientific American, "Stephen Hawking as Accidental Ambassador for Assistive Technologies," 15 Mar. 2018
Fitbit is enriching its interface for viewing health data on the wrist as well.

— lisa eadicicco, Time, "Fitbit Finally Made a Smartwatch I Can't Wait to Wear," 13 Mar. 2018
AirMap interacts with small unmanned aerial vehicles through an Internet application interface that's also used by drone manufacturers like DJI, 3D Robotics, Yuneec, and other commercial and military small UAV manufacturers.

— eric tegler, Ars Technica, "Switzerland first to test integrating drones into its air traffic control," 9 Mar. 2018
Tech companies have designed their interfaces to maximize the spread of information, to amplify faster, to increase the ß in the network.

— alexis c. madrigal, The Atlantic, "Retweets Are Trash," 5 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'interface.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of interface

1882

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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Other Chemical Engineering Terms

alkali, cation, decant, hygroscopic, isotope, oxidize, slurry, solute, viscous

interface

verb

transitive verb

1 : to connect by means of an interface

interface a machine with a computer

2 : to serve as an interface for

intransitive verb

1 : to become interfaced

2 : to interact or coordinate harmoniously

See interface defined for English-language learners

Examples of interface in a Sentence

interface a machine with a computer
the point at which the two machines interface

Recent Examples of interface from the Web

Reservation, warranty, and warehousing systems had to interface with services running on mainframes, some running software that was decades old.

— ian bogost, The Atlantic, "The Dot-Coms Were Better Than Facebook," 13 Apr. 2018
If everything the brain does to interact with the world involves muscles, why not use the motor system to more directly interface mind and machine?

— r. douglas fields, Scientific American, "Wristband Lets the Brain Control a Computer with a Thought and a Twitch," 27 Mar. 2018
Granted, there was some other tech in the case, specifically the parts that let those batteries interface with the device, but not some $660 worth.

— eric limer, Popular Mechanics, "Teardown of a $700 Battery Finds Staggeringly Little Inside," 22 Feb. 2016
Neurofeedback is used to train the brain and computer to interface with each other.

— r. douglas fields, Scientific American, "Wristband Lets the Brain Control a Computer with a Thought and a Twitch," 27 Mar. 2018
Speaking of goals, a special version of this watch will actually be worn by the referees at this year’s World Cup to interface with the goal-line technology.

— paul miller, The Verge, "World Cup referees will use Hublot’s new Wear OS watch to check for goals," 21 Mar. 2018
The company is still figuring out answers to a nagging question: How will the Ritz-Carlton and Marriott International loyalty programs interface with the cruise line?

— sara clemence, chicagotribune.com, "Ritz-Carlton is fixing everything you hate about cruise ships," 7 Mar. 2018
How will the Ritz-Carlton and Marriott International loyalty programs interface with the cruise line?

— bloomberg, Fortune, "Ritz-Carlton Is Fixing Everything You Hate About Cruise Ships," 6 Mar. 2018
How will the Ritz-Carlton and Marriott International loyalty programs interface with the cruise line?

— Bloomberg.com, "Ritz-Carlton Is Fixing Everything You Hate About Cruise Ships," 6 Mar. 2018

First Known Use of interface

1962

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

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INTERFACE Defined for English Language Learners

interface

noun

: the place or area at which different things meet and communicate with or affect each other
: a system that is used for operating a computer : a system that controls the way information is shown to a computer user and the way the user is able to work with the computer
: an area or system through which one machine is connected to another machine