Princeton's WordNet(1.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. interrupt(verb)

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

2. interrupt, disrupt, break up, cut off(verb)

   make a break in

   "We interrupt the program for the following messages"

3. interrupt, disturb(verb)

   destroy the peace or tranquility of

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

4. interrupt, disrupt(verb)

   interfere in someone else's activity

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

5. interrupt, break(verb)

   terminate

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

Wiktionary(2.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. interrupt(Noun)

   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. interrupt(Verb)

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

   A maverick politician repeatedly interrupted the debate by shouting.

3. interrupt(Verb)

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

   The packet receiver circuit interrupted the microprocessor.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Interrupt(verb)

   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. Interrupt(verb)

   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

Origin: [L. interruptus, p. p.]

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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. interrumpĕre—inter, between, rumpĕre, ruptum, to break.]

The New Hacker's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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.

British National Corpus

1. Verbs Frequency

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

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

Sample Sentences & Example Usage

1. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio:

   I hate to interrupt this episode of court TV.

2. Henry J. Kaiser:

   When your work speaks for itself, dont interrupt.

3. Steve Maraboli:

   Interrupt your own speaking with your own actions."

4. Napoleon Bonaparte:

   Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.

5. Chinese Proverb:

   Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it.

Images & Illustrations of interrupt