interceptor

English

Etymology

Etymology tree
English intercept
Proto-Indo-European *-tōr
Proto-Italic *-tōr
Latin -tor
Latin -ātor
Old French -eorbor.
Middle English -our
▲
Latin -torlbor.
English -or
English interceptor

    From intercept + -or.

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /ˈɪn.təɹˌsɛp.təɹ/
    • Audio (Southern England):(file)
    • Audio (US):(file)

    Noun

    interceptor (plural interceptors)

    1. Anyone or anything that intercepts something else.
    2. A combat aircraft designed to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft before they can attack.
    3. A guided missile designed to intercept and destroy enemy missiles.
      • 2026 March 5, Thomas Bordeaux, Gianluca Mezzofiore, “Radar bases housing key US missile interceptor hit in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and UAE, satellite images show”, in CNN‎[1], Atlanta, Ga.: Warner Bros. Discovery, archived from the original on 8 March 2026:
        “The AN-TPY/2 radar is essentially the heart of the THAAD battery, enabling the launch of interceptor missiles and contributing to a networked air defense picture,” he said. “It also happens to be an incredibly expensive piece of kit. The loss of even a single radar of this type would be an operationally significant event. It is probable that a replacement unit would have to be redeployed from elsewhere, which will take time and effort.”
    4. (architecture, engineering) A device to trap, remove, or separate hazardous or undesirable matter (such as oil or sand) from normal waste conveyed through it, permitting normal sewage or liquid wastes to discharge into the disposal terminal by gravity.
    5. (computing, programming) A hook routine that intercepts normal program flow to carry out a task.
    6. A sewer that intercepts sewerage destined for an outfall (e.g. into a river) and redirects it to a treatment plant.

    Translations

    Latin

    Etymology

    interceptus, perfect passive participle of intercipiō (“to intercept, cut off”) +‎ -tor

    Pronunciation

    Noun

    interceptor m (genitive interceptōris); third declension

    1. interceptor, usurper, embezzler

    Declension

    Third-declension noun.

    singular plural
    nominative interceptor interceptōrēs
    genitive interceptōris interceptōrum
    dative interceptōrī interceptōribus
    accusative interceptōrem interceptōrēs
    ablative interceptōre interceptōribus
    vocative interceptor interceptōrēs

    References

    • “interceptor”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
    • “interceptor”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891), An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers

    Romanian

    Etymology

    Etymology tree
    French intercepter
    Proto-Indo-European *-tōr
    Proto-Italic *-tōr
    Latin -(ā)tōrem
    Old French -or
    Middle French -eur
    French -eur
    French intercepteurbor.
    Romanian interceptor

      Borrowed from French intercepteur.

      Noun

      interceptor n (plural interceptoare)

      1. interceptor

      Declension

      singular plural
      indefinite definite indefinite definite
      nominative-accusative interceptor interceptorul interceptoare interceptoarele
      genitive-dative interceptor interceptorului interceptoare interceptoarelor
      vocative interceptorule interceptoarelor

      Spanish

      Adjective

      interceptor (feminine interceptora, masculine plural interceptores, feminine plural interceptoras)

      1. that intercepts

      Noun

      interceptor m (plural interceptores, feminine interceptora, feminine plural interceptoras)

      1. interceptor

      Further reading

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