Intersecting: meaning, definitions and examples

🔀
Add to dictionary

intersecting

 

[ ˌɪntərˈsɛktɪŋ ]

Adjective / Verb
Context #1 | Adjective

mathematics

Having one or more points in common. In mathematics, intersecting lines or curves meet or cross at a point.

Synonyms

converging, crossing, meeting.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
intersecting

Use 'intersecting' when talking about two or more lines or paths that cross each other at any angle. It is often used in mathematical or geographical contexts.

  • The two highways intersect at this junction
  • The diagonal lines on the graph intersect at the origin
crossing

Use 'crossing' when one thing passes over or through another. It can be used for roads, paths, or even movements of people or animals.

  • We waited for the deer to finish crossing the road
  • The two paths crossing in the middle of the forest
meeting

Use 'meeting' when people or places come together for a specific purpose or when lines or paths come to the same point, usually in more casual contexts.

  • We are meeting at the café at 10 AM
  • The two roads meet at the old church
converging

Use 'converging' when talking about multiple paths or lines that come together at a single point or when ideas or trends meet or become similar.

  • The streams converge into a single river
  • Their opinions on the project are converging

Examples of usage

  • The intersecting lines formed a right angle.
  • The two circles are intersecting at two points.
Context #2 | Verb

general

To cross or meet at a point or line. To intersect is to share a common point, line, or portion of space.

Synonyms

converge, cross, meet.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
intersecting

Used when referring to lines or paths that cross each other at one or more points. It's often used in mathematical, geographical, or road contexts.

  • The two highways are intersecting at the new junction.
  • The graph shows intersecting lines that form multiple points of interest.
cross

This word is used when something goes from one side to another over a point or an area. It is often used in general, geographical, and everyday language.

  • We need to cross the street to get to the park.
  • The river was too wide to cross without a bridge.
meet

Generally used when two or more people or things come together at a single point. applicable in social, business, and general contexts.

  • Let's meet at the café at noon.
  • The two rivers meet in the valley.
converge

Employed when different things or paths come together at a single point. It is commonly used in mathematical, technological, and also abstract or theoretical discussions.

  • All the rays of light converge at the focal point.
  • Our team's ideas began to converge during the meeting.

Examples of usage

  • The roads intersect at the traffic light.
  • Our interests intersect at the point of environmental conservation.

Translations

Translations of the word "intersecting" in other languages:

🇵🇹 interseção

🇮🇳 अंतर्विभाजन

🇩🇪 schneidend

🇮🇩 bersimpangan

🇺🇦 перетинання

🇵🇱 przecięcie

🇯🇵 交差する

🇫🇷 intersectant

🇪🇸 intersección

🇹🇷 kesişen

🇰🇷 교차하는

🇸🇦 تقاطع

🇨🇿 protínající se

🇸🇰 pretínajúci sa

🇨🇳 相交

🇸🇮 se križajoč

🇮🇸 skurðpunktur

🇰🇿 қиылысу

🇬🇪 გადაკვეთა

🇦🇿 kəsişən

🇲🇽 intersección

Etymology

The word 'intersecting' comes from the Latin word 'intersectus', which is the past participle of 'intersecare', meaning 'to intersect'. The concept of intersecting figures has been studied in mathematics for centuries, dating back to Euclidean geometry. The term is commonly used in various fields such as geometry, graph theory, and road planning to describe the meeting or crossing of lines, curves, or paths.

See also: intersection.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #14,225, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.