Interference
/ˌɪntərˈfɪərəns/
Definitions
2 meaningsThe act of intervening in a situation or the act of something obstructing or hindering.
/ˌɪntərˈfɪərəns/
The act of interfering or the state of being interfered with.
The interference from the radio signal made the phone call unclear.
💡 Simply: Imagine your friend keeps trying to butt in when you're telling a story. That's interference! It's when someone or something gets in the way and messes things up.
👶 For kids: When something gets in the way and stops you from doing something, like a toy blocking your path.
More Examples
We must prevent any foreign interference in our political processes.
Constant interference from the neighbors made it difficult to enjoy the peace and quiet of our home.
How It's Used
"Radio interference can disrupt communication signals."
"Foreign interference in elections is a serious concern."
"I consider parental interference in my personal life to be overbearing."
The process where two or more waves combine to result in a wave of greater, lower, or the same amplitude.
/ˌɪntərˈfɪərəns/
The combination of two or more electromagnetic waveforms, resulting in a new waveform.
The phenomenon of interference explains the behavior of light.
💡 Simply: Imagine two waves of water coming together. Sometimes they make a bigger wave, sometimes they cancel each other out. That's like interference with waves, signals, or sounds.
👶 For kids: When waves bump into each other and make a new shape or size.
More Examples
Scientists study wave interference to understand how different frequencies interact.
Interference between the radio waves caused static on the radio.
How It's Used
"Constructive interference results in a signal with a larger amplitude."
"Reducing interference in a signal is critical for accurate data transmission."
Idioms & expressions
non-interference
The policy or practice of avoiding involvement in other people's or nations' affairs.
"The government adopted a policy of non-interference in the economic affairs of other countries."
From Middle French *entreferir* ('to strike between'), from Old French *entre-* ('between') + *ferir* ('to strike').
The term 'interference' has evolved from primarily referring to intrusion or meddling to also encompass the interaction of waves and signals, especially in the context of modern technology.
Memory tip
Think of someone putting their hand *in* a *fair* game (interference).