interfere

 
Pronunciation: /ɪntəˈfɪə/

verb

[no object]
  • 1 (interfere with) prevent (a process or activity) from continuing or being carried out properly: a holiday job would interfere with his studies
  • (of a thing) strike against or impede (something) when working: the rotors are widely separated and do not interfere with one another
  • handle or adjust (something) without permission, especially so as to cause damage: he admitted interfering with a van
  • 2intervene in a situation without invitation or necessity: she tried not to interfere in her children’s lives
  • 3 (interfere with) British, euphemistic sexually molest (someone, especially a child).
  • 4 (interfere with) Law attempt to bribe or intimidate (a witness): they face charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice and interfering with witnesses
  • 5 Physics (of light or other electromagnetic waveforms) interact to produce interference: light pulses interfere constructively in a fibre to emit a pulse
  • cause interference to a broadcast radio signal.
  • 6(of a horse) knock one foot against the fetlock of another leg.

Derivatives

interferer

noun

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French s'entreferir 'strike each other', from entre- 'between' + ferir (from Latin ferire 'to strike')