intercept
/ˌɪntəˈsept/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɪntərˈsept/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌin-tər-ˈsept/ (ame, mw)
intercept — 動詞
- interceptpresent simple I / you / we / they
- interceptshe / she / it
- interceptedpast simple
- intercepting-ing form
1. to stop someone or something that is moving from one place to another before the
攔截；截住
在途中阻止人或物到達目的地
to stop someone or something that is moving from one place to another before they reach the place they are heading for
The police intercepted the stolen car before it reached the border crossing.
警方在失竊車輛抵達邊境關卡前就將它攔截下來。
intercept + direct object (stolen car) — stop in transit
Fatima intercepted her younger brother at the door as he tried to sneak out with muddy shoes.
Fatima 在門口攔住弟弟，因為他正想穿著沾滿泥巴的鞋子溜出去。
Customs officers at the airport intercepted a package that contained illegal animal products.
機場的海關人員截獲了一個裝有非法動物產品的包裹。
Tariq ran across the field and intercepted the messenger before the letter could be delivered.
Tariq 跑過田野攔住了信差，沒讓那封信被送到。
The goalkeeper threw herself to the left and intercepted the ball just before it crossed the goal line.
那位守門員奮力向左撲出，在球越過球門線前將它截了下來。
- allow through
to let someone or something continue without interference
文法句型
intercept + noun phrase (a person/vehicle/object)
用法筆記
Frequently used in news reports about law enforcement stopping illegal shipments or vehicles in transit. The object is typically something unwanted or unauthorised that is in motion toward a destination.
常見錯誤
2. in sports such as football, basketball, or rugby, to catch or take control of a
抄截；攔截
在運動中接住對方傳球
in sports such as football, basketball, or rugby, to catch or take control of a ball or puck that a player from the opposing team has thrown or kicked
Emeka intercepted the quarterback's pass and sprinted forty yards into the end zone.
Emeka 抄截了四分衛的傳球，然後帶球狂奔四十碼達陣得分。
intercept + a pass — American football context
The defender jumped high and intercepted the basketball pass meant for the center player.
那名後衛高高跳起，截下了原本傳給中鋒的籃球。
Rosa intercepted a risky sideways pass during the rugby match and ran toward the try line.
Rosa 在橄欖球比賽中攔截了一個危險的側傳，並朝達陣線衝去。
Nadia intercepted a careless throw near the basket and started a fast break in the opposite direction.
Nadia 在籃框附近截獲了一記草率的傳球，然後朝反方向快速反擊。
- receive
to catch a ball intended for your own team
文法句型
intercept + a pass / a throw / a ball
用法筆記
This sense is specific to team ball sports. The subject is a defensive player, and the object is always the ball or pass that the attacking side intended for a teammate. In American football, a quarterback who throws an intercepted pass is said to have 'thrown an interception.'
常見錯誤
3. to secretly receive an electronic message, phone call, or radio signal that was
竊聽；截收
秘密接收他人通訊訊息
to secretly receive an electronic message, phone call, or radio signal that was meant for someone else, often as part of surveillance or espionage
Security agents intercepted a phone call between the suspect and an unknown contact in another country.
安全人員竊聽到了嫌犯與一名海外不明聯絡人之間的通話。
intercept + phone call — surveillance context
The company's security team discovered that an outside group had been intercepting their internal emails for several months.
公司資安團隊發現，某外部團體已經暗中攔截內部電子郵件長達數月。
passive: had been intercepting — ongoing secret access
Wei picked up a faint radio signal that a listening station in the mountains had intercepted while monitoring the airwaves.
Wei 接收到一個微弱的無線電訊號，這個訊號是被山區的一處監聽站在監測電波時截收到的。
Deepa warned her team not to discuss the budget figures on the phone because the line might be intercepted.
Deepa 警告團隊不要在電話中討論預算數字，因為線路可能遭到竊聽。
- tap
specifically refers to secretly listening to phone calls; more informal
- eavesdrop on
suggests listening without technical equipment; less formal
文法句型
intercept + phone call / email / signal / message
用法筆記
Object refers to communications (calls, emails, radio transmissions, data streams). This sense strongly implies secrecy — the person whose communication is intercepted does not know it is happening. Common in espionage, journalism, and cybersecurity contexts.
常見錯誤
intercept — 名詞
1. the point where a line or curve on a graph meets one of the axes — for example,
截距
圖形與坐標軸的交點
the point where a line or curve on a graph meets one of the axes — for example, the x-intercept is where the line crosses the horizontal axis and the y-intercept is where it crosses the vertical axis
On a cost graph, the y-intercept shows the starting fee when the distance travelled is zero.
在成本圖表上，y 截距顯示距離為零時的起步費用。
y-intercept — specific axis crossing point
Qing calculated the x-intercept of the profit curve by setting the equation to zero and solving for the break-even point.
Qing 將利潤曲線的方程式設為零來計算 x 截距，從而找出損益平衡點。
The height-versus-time graph's y-intercept of three means the plant was three centimetres tall at the start.
高度對時間圖表的 y 截距為三，表示這株植物一開始就有三公分高。
Vikram plotted the company's monthly revenue and found where the curve crossed the x-axis at the break-even month.
Vikram 畫出公司每月營收的曲線，並找出曲線與 x 軸相交的月份，那就是損益平衡點。
- intersection point
more general; any crossing point between two lines, not just with axes
文法句型
x-intercept / y-intercept
the intercept of [graph/line]
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively in mathematics and science. Often appears with a prefix specifying the axis: x-intercept (horizontal axis crossing) or y-intercept (vertical axis crossing). The term is countable: 'two intercepts,' 'no intercept.' Not to be confused with the verb 'intercept.'
2. an act of stopping someone or something while they are travelling from one place
攔截；截獲
攔截的行為或狀態
an act of stopping someone or something while they are travelling from one place to another, or the situation that results from being stopped
The intercept of the illegal shipment by border police led to a major criminal investigation.
邊境警方對那批非法貨物的攔截，引發了一起重大刑事調查。
the intercept of [something] — noun phrase with of
The team celebrated their third intercept of the match, which helped them win the championship title.
這支球隊因比賽中第三次成功抄截而歡呼，這次抄截幫助他們贏得了冠軍。
The intercept of the stolen painting at the port was reported in all the local newspapers.
那幅失竊畫作在港口被截獲的消息登上了所有當地報紙的頭條。
Both governments denied any involvement in the intercept of the diplomatic courier near the border town.
兩國政府都否認與邊境小鎮附近攔截外交信使的事件有任何關聯。
- interception
the standard sports term; more common than 'intercept' in that context
- seizure
implies legal or official taking; more forceful
文法句型
the intercept of [something]
[number] intercepts
用法筆記
In sports contexts, 'interception' is far more common than 'intercept' for this meaning. In law enforcement and security reporting, both 'intercept' and 'interception' are used. This noun is countable in sports contexts ('three intercepts') but often uncountable in general uses ('the intercept of goods').
3. a piece of information, such as a message, phone conversation, or radio signal,
截獲情報
被秘密截取的訊息或信號
a piece of information, such as a message, phone conversation, or radio signal, that has been secretly obtained by someone who was not the intended recipient
The encrypted intercepts revealed the location where the spy network planned to meet next.
那些加密的截獲情報顯示了間諜網路計劃下次會面的地點。
encrypted intercepts — plural noun for captured data
Analysts spent several weeks decoding the radio intercepts from the satellite ground station.
分析師花了數週時間解碼來自衛星地面站的無線電截獲訊息。
Fumi reviewed the naval intercepts and identified the position of the missing research vessel.
Fumi 審閱了海軍截獲的情報，並確定了失蹤研究船隻的位置。
The news article quoted from classified military intercepts, triggering a public debate about surveillance.
那篇新聞報導引用了機密軍事截獲資料，引發了一場關於監控的公開辯論。
- intercepted message
more transparent; avoids the nominalised form
- intelligence
broader; refers to any collected secret information
文法句型
classified intercepts
radio intercepts
用法筆記
Almost always appears in plural form ('intercepts') when referring to collected materials as a body of evidence. In singular form it refers to one specific captured item. Common in intelligence, journalism, and military contexts. Often modified by adjectives like 'classified,' 'encrypted,' 'naval,' or 'diplomatic.'