A signal that temporarily stops the execution of a program so that another procedure can be carried out.

Make a break in:
— We interrupt the program for the following messages.

synonyms: break up, cut off, disrupt.

Roget 142: cease, discontinue, desist, stay, halt; break off, leave off; hold, stop, pull up, stop short; stick, hang fire; halt; pause, rest; burn out, blow out, melt down.    have done with, give over, surcease, shut up shop; give up etc. (relinquish) 624.    hold one's hand, stay one's hand; rest on one's oars repose on one's laurels.    come to a stand, come to a standstill; come to a deadlock, come to a full stop; arrive etc. 292; go out, die away; wear away, wear off; pass away etc. (be past) 122; be at an end; disintegrate, self-destruct.    intromit, interrupt, suspend, interpel^†; intermit, remit; put an end to, put a stop to, put a period to; derail; turn off, switch off, power down, deactivate, disconnect; bring to a stand, bring to a standstill; stop, cut short, arrest, stem the tide, stem the torrent; pull the check-string, pull the plug on.    ... show more

Roget 706: hinder, impede, filibuster [U.S.], impedite^†, embarrass.    keep off, stave off, ward off; obviate; avert, antevert^†; turn aside, draw off, prevent, forefend, nip in the bud; retard, slacken, check, let; counteract, countercheck^†; preclude, debar, foreclose, estop [Law]; inhibit etc. 761; shackle etc. (restrain) 751; restrict.    obstruct, stop, stay, bar, bolt, lock; block, block up; choke off; belay, barricade; block the way, bar the way, stop the way; forelay^†; dam up etc. (close) 261; put on the brake etc. n.; scotch the wheel, lock the wheel, put a spoke in the wheel; put a stop to etc. 142; traverse, contravene; interrupt, intercept; oppose etc. 708; hedge in, hedge round; cut off; inerclude^†.    interpose, interfere, intermeddle etc. 682.    cramp, hamper; clog, clog the wheels; cumber; encumber, incumber; handicap; choke; saddle with, load with; overload, lay; lumber, trammel, tie one's hands, put to inconvenience; incommode, discommode; discompose; hustle, corner, drive into a corner.    run foul of, fall foul of; cross the path of, break in upon.    thwart, frustrate, disconcert, balk, foil; faze, feaze^†, feeze [U.S.]; baffle, snub, override, circumvent; defeat etc. 731; spike guns etc. (render useless) 645; spoil, mar, clip the wings of; cripple etc. (injure) 659; put an extinguisher on; damp; dishearten etc. (dissuade) 616; discountenance, throw cold water on, spoil sport; lay a wet blanket, throw a wet blanket on; cut the ground from under one, take the wind out of one's sails, undermine; be in the way of, stand in the way of; act as a drag; hang like a millstone round one's neck.    ... show more

Destroy the peace or tranquility of:
— Don't interrupt me when I'm reading.

synonym: disturb.

Interfere in someone else's activity:
— Please don't interrupt me while I'm on the phone.

synonym: disrupt.

Dutch: onderbreken, storen

Terminate:
— She interrupted her pregnancy.

synonym: break.

Roget 70: be discontinuous etc. adj.; alternate, intermit, sputter, stop and start, hesitate.    discontinue, pause, interrupt; intervene; break, break in upon, break off; interpose etc. 228; break the thread, snap the thread; disconnect etc. (disjoin) 44; dissever.    ... show more