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

As investigators await full autopsy and toxicology results, family-court proceedings have increasingly intersected with the criminal inquiry. —Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025

The battle over the booze escalates into a full-on war that intersects with his enemies in both New York and the FBI. —Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Nov. 2025

McCarthy said that dual-frame workflow was the only way to get Brown to intersect the one sliver of the sun where the silhouette would land cleanly. —Josh Dinner, Space.com, 22 Nov. 2025

The same week, Tracee Ellis Ross intersected the trend with Alaïa’s leopard-print thong mule, while Rita Ora leaned on Gianvito Rossi’s pointed kitten pump with sheer neutral socks in London. —Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 18 Nov. 2025

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