interference
UK[ˌɪntəˈfɪərəns]US[ˌɪntərˈfɪrəns]
n
the act of interfering; the process of getting involved in and trying to influence a situation that should not involve you, often in an annoying way.
n
(physics) the process in which two or more waves combine to form a new wave, increasing, decreasing, or neutralizing the total effect.
n
(electronics) the interruption or disturbance of a radio or television signal, causing noise or an unclear picture.
Morpheme Breakdown
inter
fer
ence
inter
between, among
fer
to bear, to carry
ence
noun suffix
Etymology
The word "interference" is built from Latin components that literally describe the act of "carrying between." The core verb ferre (to bear, carry) is prefixed with inter- (between), creating a sense of striking against or clashing by bringing things into the space between others. This concrete notion of physical obstruction or meddling evolved into the modern abstract meanings. In the 18th century, it was adopted into scientific contexts, particularly in physics, to describe the mutual action of waves where they meet, perfectly capturing the original idea of things being "brought between" each other. Thus, from a literal clash, the term broadened to encompass any unwanted intervention, signal disruption, or wave interaction.
Analysis
Structure: inter (between, among) + fer (to bear, to carry) + ence (noun suffix)
- inter: Latin origin, meaning "between, among". A prefix indicating location or reciprocal action.
- fer: Latin origin, from the verb ferre, meaning "to bear, to carry". A root indicating the action of bringing or carrying.
- ence: Latin origin (-entia), a noun-forming suffix indicating an action, state, or quality.
Examples
The manager resented any interference from the head office in his daily operations.
The beautiful colors on the soap bubble are caused by the interference of light waves.
We couldn't hear the broadcast clearly due to electrical interference.