intersect

verb

in·​ter·​sect ˌin-tər-ˈsekt How to pronounce intersect (audio)
intersected; intersecting; intersects

transitive verb

: to pierce or divide by passing through or across : cross
a comet intersecting earth's orbit
one line intersects another

intransitive verb

1
: to meet and cross at a point
lines intersecting at right angles
2
: to share a common area : overlap
where morality and self-interest intersect

Examples of intersect in a Sentence

A dry stream bed intersects the trail in several places. Line A intersects with line B. The two roads intersect at the edge of town.
Recent Examples on the Web Henríquez imagines a laborer, a stowaway and a scientist whose lives intersect during the canal’s construction. Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024 Every so often my many interests (fashion, fitness, influencer marketing) all intersect into one perfect story, and such is the case with the incredible success of Halara. Sarah Boyd, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Experts point to numerous, often intersecting currents limiting the scope and power of homeownership vouchers. Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Feb. 2024 The characters further intersected in 2012's The Avengers, in which Loki brainwashed Hawkeye into acting as a secondary antagonist for the rest of the superhero team to fight. Tommy McArdle, Peoplemag, 20 Feb. 2024 Visual #8 Ships churning across the Pacific Ocean in 2012 produced this tapestry of intersecting cloud trails in the atmosphere. Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 29 Jan. 2024 André 3000’s New Blue Sun, released in November 2023, intersects ambient new age, jazz, and improv with experimental electronic music. Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 23 Jan. 2024 This means that those in Kokomo and Frankfort, Indiana, need to be extremely careful for the eclipse because the northern edge of the path intersects both. Jamie Carter, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2024 These images portray the city less as a backdrop to a collection of isolated stories and more as a tapestry of intersecting joys and woes. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 16 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'intersect.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin intersectus, past participle of intersecare, from inter- + secare to cut — more at saw

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of intersect was in 1615

Dictionary Entries Near intersect

Cite this Entry

“Intersect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intersect. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

intersect

verb
in·​ter·​sect ˌint-ər-ˈsekt How to pronounce intersect (audio)
1
: to divide by passing through or across : cross
one line intersecting another
2
: to meet and cross at one or more points
overlapping circles intersect at two points

More from Merriam-Webster on intersect

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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