Word
intersect
Phoneticsin·ter·sect, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌɪntɝˈsɛkt/
UK/ˌɪntəsˈɛkt/
Definition
v. to meet or cross at a certain point. You use this when two roads, lines, or ideas come together.
v. to divide or cross by passing through or across; to meet and cross at a point. Often describes the physical crossing of lines or the conceptual overlapping of different topics.
Examples
“The two main roads intersect at the center of town.”
“The study explores how environmental policies and economic growth intersect in developing nations.”
“In urban planning, the goal is to design spaces where public transit routes and pedestrian paths intersect seamlessly to reduce reliance on private vehicles.”
Examples
simple
“The two main roads intersect at the center of town.”
contextual
“The study explores how environmental policies and economic growth intersect in developing nations.”
complex
“In urban planning, the goal is to design spaces where public transit routes and pedestrian paths intersect seamlessly to reduce reliance on private vehicles.”
Usage
The verb can be used intransitively ('the lines intersect') or transitively ('line A intersects line B').
Real-World Examples
“The team saw their potential as biocultural aquatic landscapes, where culture and biodiversity intersect.” “The project interviewed forty artists about their lives, their work, and how the AIDS crisis intersected and permeated both.” Etymology
From Latin intersecare (“to cut between, cut off”), from inter (“between”) + secare (“to cut”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/intersect