INTERSECTION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does intersection mean? 

• INTERSECTION (noun)
  The noun INTERSECTION has 6 senses:

1. a point where lines intersect

2. a junction where one street or road crosses another

3. a point or set of points common to two or more geometric configurations

4. the set of elements common to two or more sets

5. a representation of common ground between theories or phenomena

6. the act of intersecting (as joining by causing your path to intersect your target's path)

  Familiarity information: INTERSECTION used as a noun is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INTERSECTION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A point where lines intersect

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

intersection; intersection point; point of intersection

Hypernyms ("intersection" is a kind of...):

point (a geometric element that has position but no extension)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "intersection"):

metacenter; metacentre ((shipbuilding) the point of intersection between two vertical lines, one line through the center of buoyancy of the hull of a ship in equilibrium and the other line through the center of buoyancy of the hull when the ship is inclined to one side; the distance of this intersection above the center of gravity is an indication of the stability of the ship)

vertex (the point of intersection of lines or the point opposite the base of a figure)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A junction where one street or road crosses another

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

carrefour; crossing; crossroad; crossway; intersection

Hypernyms ("intersection" is a kind of...):

junction (the place where two or more things come together)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "intersection"):

corner; street corner; turning point (the intersection of two streets)

grade crossing; level crossing (intersection of a railway and a road on the same level; barriers close road when trains pass)

Holonyms ("intersection" is a part of...):

road; route (an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A point or set of points common to two or more geometric configurations

Classified under:

Nouns denoting two and three dimensional shapes

Hypernyms ("intersection" is a kind of...):

set ((mathematics) an abstract collection of numbers or symbols)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "intersection"):

origin (the point of intersection of coordinate axes; where the values of the coordinates are all zero)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The set of elements common to two or more sets

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

Cartesian product; intersection; product

Context example:

the set of red hats is the intersection of the set of hats and the set of red things

Hypernyms ("intersection" is a kind of...):

set (a group of things of the same kind that belong together and are so used)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A representation of common ground between theories or phenomena

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

convergence; intersection; overlap

Context example:

there was no overlap between their proposals

Hypernyms ("intersection" is a kind of...):

internal representation; mental representation; representation (a presentation to the mind in the form of an idea or image)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "intersection"):

crossroads (a point where a choice must be made)

interface (the overlap where two theories or phenomena affect each other or have links with each other)

Sense 6

Meaning:

The act of intersecting (as joining by causing your path to intersect your target's path)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("intersection" is a kind of...):

connection; connexion; joining (the act of bringing two things into contact (especially for communication))

Derivation:

intersect (meet at a point)

 Context examples 

A data type comprised of the intersection of sets of unordered, quantitative values.

(Continuous Set Intersection Data Type, NCI Thesaurus)

Lashing the two topmasts together, and making allowance for their unequal length, at the point of intersection I attached the double block of the main throat-halyards.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

When the orbits cross, the objects have the possibility of colliding if they arrive at that intersection at the same time.

(NASA Orbiter Steers Clear of Mars Moon Phobos, NASA)

Long-haul trucks on interstate highways often drive at relatively constant speeds with little or no intersections which makes autonomous driving easier to achieve.

(Tesla to Test Self-driving Electric Trucks, VOA News)

When you follow two separate chains of thought, Watson, you will find some point of intersection which should approximate to the truth.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A closed plane curve resulting from the intersection of a circular cone and a plane cutting completely through it, especially a plane not parallel to the base.

(Ellipse, NCI Thesaurus)

Biological study that combines traditional techniques with computer analysis; an intersection of computational biology and biomedical informatics.

(Biomedical Computing, NCI Thesaurus)

Science at the intersection of nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology, and cognitive technologies.

(Converging technologies, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

The team gathered and analyzed around-the-clock measurements of the depth, salinity, and temperature of channel waters and their intersection with the coastal edge of Greenland's ice sheet.

(The Hidden Meltdown of Greenland, NASA)

I began my operations at Gloucester Road Station, where a very helpful official walked with me along the track and allowed me to satisfy myself not only that the back-stair windows of Caulfield Gardens open on the line but the even more essential fact that, owing to the intersection of one of the larger railways, the Underground trains are frequently held motionless for some minutes at that very spot.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)