Etymology From Middle English interrupten, derived from Latin interruptus, past participle of interrumpere (“to break apart/off, interrupt”), from inter (“between”) + rumpere (“to break”).
1
Ambitransitive To disturb or halt (an ongoing process or action, or the person performing it) by interfering suddenly, especially by speaking.
A maverick politician repeatedly interrupted the debate by shouting.
Do not interrupt me in my course.c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii]:
1 more example
One saint's day in mid-term a certain newly appointed suffragan-bishop came to the school chapel, and there preached on “The Inner Life.” He at once secured attention by his informal method, and when presently the coughing of Jarvis […] interrupted the sermon, he altogether captivated his audience with a remark about cough lozenges being cheap and easily procurable.1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter III, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
2
To divide; to separate; to break the monotony of.
The evenness of the road was not interrupted by a single hill.
3
Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences To assert to (a computer) that an exceptional condition must be handled.
The packet receiver circuit interrupted the microprocessor.
Etymology From Middle English interrupten, derived from Latin interruptus, past participle of interrumpere (“to break apart/off, interrupt”), from inter (“between”) + rumpere (“to break”).