intersection
/ˌɪn.təˈsek.ʃən/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɪn.t̬ɚˈsek.ʃən/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌin-tər-ˈsek-shən especially in sense 1 ˈin-tər-ˌsek-/ (ame, mw)
intersection — noun
- intersectionsingular
- intersectionsplural
1. the point or place where two lines, paths, or surfaces meet and cross each other
the point or place where two lines, paths, or surfaces meet and cross each other
The two diagonal lines on the page meet at a single point called their intersection.
prepositional phrase: at the intersection
Quan drew two crossing lines and marked the intersection with a small dot.
On the map, the railway track intersection was marked with a tiny cross.
Layla calculated the intersection point of the two curves for her geometry homework.
- crossing
more general; can refer to any place where things cross, including roads or lines
- junction
more common for roads; less natural for geometric lines
- meeting point
describes the same concept but is less technical
2. any point along a street where another road crosses it, usually managed by traff
any point along a street where another road crosses it, usually managed by traffic lights or road signs
Turn left at the next intersection, and the library will be on your right.
direction-giving context: turn left/right at the intersection
There was a long traffic jam at the intersection of Main Street and Park Avenue.
Vikram waited at the busy intersection for the green light before crossing the road.
A small café on the corner of the intersection sells coffee to morning commuters.
The city installed new pedestrian crossings at every major intersection near the school.
- junction
broader term; can refer to any point where roads meet, including motorway exits
- crossroads
specifically where two roads cross at right angles; more common in British English
- crossing
can refer to a pedestrian crossing or a place where roads cross
用法筆記
In everyday conversation, 'intersection' typically refers to a road junction where traffic may flow in different directions. For smaller, uncontrolled road junctions, 'crossroads' is also common in British English.
常見錯誤
3. a situation in which two separate things come together and cross one another
a situation in which two separate things come together and cross one another
The intersection of the two rivers creates a wide area of calm, slow-moving water.
pattern: intersection of [noun] and [noun] for physical meeting
Scientists studied the intersection of ocean currents near the coast of New Zealand.
The intersection of the two hiking trails was a popular rest spot for walkers.
Hikers stopped at the intersection of the creek and the trail to refill their bottles.
- convergence
suggests things moving towards each other and meeting; more technical
- meeting
simpler and more general; less precise than 'intersection'
- crossing
similar meaning but often implies one thing passing over another
- divergence
the process of moving apart or separating
用法筆記
This sense often appears in figurative or descriptive contexts, describing where two natural or abstract things meet (e.g., rivers, currents, disciplines). It is less common than sense 1 or 2.
4. in mathematics, the set of all elements that belong to each of several given set
in mathematics, the set of all elements that belong to each of several given sets
Ms. Chen asked the class to find the intersection of students in choir and band.
classroom context: common members of two groups
Zola drew a Venn diagram and shaded the intersection of the three overlapping circles.
The intersection of their pets was empty because Mei owns cats and Leo owns dogs.
Adina calculated the probability of the intersection of two independent events in her statistics class.
用法筆記
In mathematics, the intersection of two sets is written as A ∩ B. The symbol ∩ is read as 'intersect' or 'cap'. This sense is used mainly in set theory, probability, and logic.