What does "intersection" mean?

1. (road junction) a place where two or more roads cross each other. 2. (overlap of ideas) a point where two different things, like ideas or groups of people, come together. 3. (geometry and sets) the point where two lines meet, or the items that two different groups have in common. 4. (skating move) a move in team ice skating where skaters pass through each other's lines.

How do you use "intersection"?

Commonly used in North American English where British speakers might say 'crossroads' or 'junction'.

intersection

US //ˌɪntɝˈsɛkʃən// UK //ˌɪntəsˈɛkʃən// in·ter·sec·tion

1 road junction (n.)
B1 Intermediate American English

a place where two or more roads cross each other.

the junction where two or more paths, streets, or highways meet or cross.

Example

Be careful when you drive through the intersection because the lights are broken.

Example

The city council approved the installation of a new roundabout at the busy intersection to reduce the frequency of traffic accidents.

Usage

Commonly used in North American English where British speakers might say 'crossroads' or 'junction'.
- junction
- crossroads
2 overlap of ideas (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

a point where two different things, like ideas or groups of people, come together.

a point or area of overlap, confluence, or crossover between distinct categories or concepts.

Example

The book explores the intersection of art and technology in the modern world.

Example

Her research focuses on the intersection of environmental policy and social justice, examining how climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable communities.
- divergence
- separation

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3 geometry and sets (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Math

the point where two lines meet, or the items that two different groups have in common.

the set of points common to two geometric figures, or the set containing all elements common to two or more sets.

Example

The intersection of the two lines is marked with the letter X on the graph.

Example

In set theory, the intersection of sets A and B contains only the elements that appear in both groups.
- meeting point
- union
4 skating move (n.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Sport

a move in team ice skating where skaters pass through each other's lines.

a technical element in synchronized skating where two or more lines of skaters pass through one another.

Example

The team performed a perfect intersection during their long program.

Example

The judges awarded high marks for the technical difficulty of the angled intersection, noting the precise spacing between the skaters.

Origin

From Middle French intersection and its etymon Latin intersectiō. By surface analysis, intersect + -ion.