What does interrupt mean?

Definitions for interrupt
ˌɪn təˈrʌpt; ˈɪn təˌrʌptin·ter·rupt

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word interrupt.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. interruptverb

    a signal that temporarily stops the execution of a program so that another procedure can be carried out

  2. interrupt, disrupt, break up, cut offverb

    make a break in

    "We interrupt the program for the following messages"

  3. interrupt, disturbverb

    destroy the peace or tranquility of

    "Don't interrupt me when I'm reading"

  4. interrupt, disruptverb

    interfere in someone else's activity

    "Please don't interrupt me while I'm on the phone"

  5. interrupt, breakverb

    terminate

    "She interrupted her pregnancy"; "break a lucky streak"; "break the cycle of poverty"

Wiktionary

  1. interruptnoun

    An event that causes a computer to temporarily cease what it was doing and attend to a condition

    The interrupt caused the packet handler routine to run.

  2. interruptverb

    to disturb or halt an ongoing process or action by interfering suddenly.

    A maverick politician repeatedly interrupted the debate by shouting.

  3. interruptverb

    To assert to a computer that an exceptional condition must be handled.

    The packet receiver circuit interrupted the microprocessor.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. To Interruptverb

    Etymology: interrompre, Fr. interruptus, Lat.

    Rage doth rend
    Like interrupted waters, and o'erbear
    What they are used to bear. William Shakespeare, Coriolanus.

    He might securely enough have engaged his body of horse against their whole inconsiderable army, there being neither tree nor bush to interrupt his charge. Edward Hyde, b. ii.

    This motion of the heavenly bodies seems partly uninterrupted, as that of the first moveable interpolated and interrupted. Matthew Hale.

    Answer not before thou hast heard the cause; neither interrupt men in the midst of their talk. Ecclus. xi. 8.

    Seest thou what rage
    Transports our adversary, whom no bounds,
    Nor yet the main abyss wide interrupt, can hold. John Milton.

Wikipedia

  1. Interrupt

    In digital computers, an interrupt (sometimes referred to as a trap) is a request for the processor to interrupt currently executing code (when permitted), so that the event can be processed in a timely manner. If the request is accepted, the processor will suspend its current activities, save its state, and execute a function called an interrupt handler (or an interrupt service routine, ISR) to deal with the event. This interruption is often temporary, allowing the software to resume normal activities after the interrupt handler finishes, although the interrupt could instead indicate a fatal error.Interrupts are commonly used by hardware devices to indicate electronic or physical state changes that require time-sensitive attention. Interrupts are also commonly used to implement computer multitasking, especially in real-time computing. Systems that use interrupts in these ways are said to be interrupt-driven.

ChatGPT

  1. interrupt

    An interrupt is a signal or command that temporarily stops, halts, or breaks the normal flow of a process, program, or operation in a computer system. This allows immediate attention to be given to a specific function or urgent task, typically from the system's hardware or operating system. Once the interrupt has been addressed, the process or operation resumes from where it left off.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Interruptverb

    to break into, or between; to stop, or hinder by breaking in upon the course or progress of; to interfere with the current or motion of; to cause a temporary cessation of; as, to interrupt the remarks speaking

  2. Interruptverb

    to divide; to separate; to break the monotony of; as, the evenness of the road was not interrupted by a single hill

  3. Interrupt

    broken; interrupted

  4. Etymology: [L. interruptus, p. p.]

Wikidata

  1. Interrupt

    In systems programming, an interrupt is a signal to the processor emitted by hardware or software indicating an event that needs immediate attention. An interrupt alerts the processor to a high-priority condition requiring the interruption of the current code the processor is executing, the current thread. The processor responds by suspending its current activities, saving its state, and executing a small program called an interrupt handler to deal with the event. This interruption is temporary, and after the interrupt handler finishes, the processor resumes execution of the previous thread. There are two types of interrupts: A hardware interrupt is an electronic alerting signal sent to the processor from an external device, either a part of the computer itself such as a disk controller or an external peripheral. For example, pressing a key on the keyboard or moving the mouse triggers hardware interrupts that cause the processor to read the keystroke or mouse position. Unlike the software type, hardware interrupts are asynchronous and can occur in the middle of instruction execution, requiring additional care in programming. The act of initiating a hardware interrupt is referred to as an interrupt request.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Interrupt

    in-tėr-rupt′, v.t. to break in between: to stop or hinder by breaking in upon: to divide: to break continuity.—adj. (Milt.) gaping apart.—adv. Interrup′tedly, with interruptions.—ns. Interrup′ter, Interrup′tor; Interrup′tion, act of interrupting: hinderance: cessation.—adj. Interrup′tive, tending to interrupt.—adv. Interrup′tively. [L. interrumpĕreinter, between, rumpĕre, ruptum, to break.]

The New Hacker's Dictionary

  1. interrupt

    1. [techspeak] n. On a computer, an event that interrupts normal processing and temporarily diverts flow-of-control through an “interrupt handler” routine. See also trap. 2. interj. A request for attention from a hacker. Often explicitly spoken. “Interrupt — have you seen Joe recently?” See priority interrupt.

Matched Categories

British National Corpus

  1. Verbs Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'interrupt' in Verbs Frequency: #695

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

How to pronounce interrupt?

How to say interrupt in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of interrupt in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of interrupt in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of interrupt in a Sentence

  1. Jeb Bush:

    You have to pivot towards what you want to say, and look at -- learn to interrupt in a way that doesn't sound like you're just oppressively rude, you've got to garner the space. You got to talk about what's important, and I'll do that. Whether I've got a consultant is not as relevant right now.

  2. John Locke:

    There cannot be greater rudeness than to interrupt another in the current of his discourse.

  3. Adam Crane:

    It was peaceful and it didn't interrupt the music, after the protest, they left Powell Hall marching two-by-two down the stairs and out the door.

  4. RJ Intindola:

    If you think it can’t be done, please don’t interfere or interrupt the rest of us trying to do it.

  5. Carly Fiorina:

    Donald, sorry, I've got to interrupt again. You would know something about pathological, how was that meeting with Putin? Or Wharton? Or your self funded campaign? Anyone can turn a multi-million dollar inheritance into more money, but all the money in the world won't make you as smart as Ben Carson.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

interrupt#10000#11623#100000

Translations for interrupt

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

Get even more translations for interrupt »

Translation

Find a translation for the interrupt definition in other languages:

Select another language:

  • - Select -
  • 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
  • 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
  • Español (Spanish)
  • Esperanto (Esperanto)
  • 日本語 (Japanese)
  • Português (Portuguese)
  • Deutsch (German)
  • العربية (Arabic)
  • Français (French)
  • Русский (Russian)
  • ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
  • 한국어 (Korean)
  • עברית (Hebrew)
  • Gaeilge (Irish)
  • Українська (Ukrainian)
  • اردو (Urdu)
  • Magyar (Hungarian)
  • मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
  • Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Italiano (Italian)
  • தமிழ் (Tamil)
  • Türkçe (Turkish)
  • తెలుగు (Telugu)
  • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
  • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
  • Čeština (Czech)
  • Polski (Polish)
  • Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Românește (Romanian)
  • Nederlands (Dutch)
  • Ελληνικά (Greek)
  • Latinum (Latin)
  • Svenska (Swedish)
  • Dansk (Danish)
  • Suomi (Finnish)
  • فارسی (Persian)
  • ייִדיש (Yiddish)
  • հայերեն (Armenian)
  • Norsk (Norwegian)
  • English (English)

Word of the Day

Would you like us to send you a FREE new word definition delivered to your inbox daily?

Please enter your email address:


Citation

Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"interrupt." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 23 Dec. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/interrupt>.

Discuss these interrupt definitions with the community:

0 Comments

    Are we missing a good definition for interrupt? Don't keep it to yourself...

    Image or illustration of

    interrupt

    Credit »

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant definitions for any word that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant definitions for any word that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Quiz

    Are you a words master?

    »
    difficult or impossible to perceive or discern
    A indiscernible
    B ectomorphic
    C equivalent
    D aculeate

    Nearby & related entries:

    Alternative searches for interrupt: