intersect

verb

in·​ter·​sect ˌin-tər-ˈsekt 

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

Synonyms of intersect

• cross

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

Those areas can intersect around the same commercial relationship. — Malana Vantyler, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026

In its northern section, excavators found a main street running east to west; this is intersected by a road running south to north, indicating some level of urban planning within the fortification. — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 18 Sep. 2026

The veteran playmaker has mostly flown under the radar since being traded to the Dallas Mavericks in February 2023, but his latest remarks have placed him back at the nexus where sports and politics continue to intersect. — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 17 Sep. 2026

Esmerelda’s become something like the Dwight Schrute of the series, with Impacciatore playing her scenes as a clownlike farce, but her antics don’t intersect with the rest of The Paper’s plotlines tonally or narratively. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026

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

Rhymes for intersect

• architect
• circumspect
• deselect
• dialect
• disconnect
• disinfect
• disrespect
• incorrect
• indirect
• intellect
• interject
• pluperfect

Kids Definition

intersect

verb

in·​ter·​sect ˌint-ər-ˈsekt 

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