interference

== English == === Etymology === From interfere +‎ -ence. The sense in physics was likely introduced by English polymath Thomas Young, which he used as early as 1801 in a paper in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. === Pronunciation === (UK) IPA(key): /ˌɪntə(ɹ)ˈfɪəɹəns/ (US) IPA(key): /ˌɪntəɹˈfɪɹɪns/ === Noun === interference (countable and uncountable, plural interferences) The act of interfering with something, or something that interferes. (sports) The illegal obstruction of an opponent in some ball games. (physics) An effect caused by the superposition of two systems of waves. A distortion on a broadcast signal due to atmospheric or other effects. (US, law) In United States patent law, an inter partes proceeding to determine the priority issues of multiple patent applications; a priority contest. (chess) The interruption of the line between an attacked piece and its defender by sacrificially interposing a piece. (linguistics) A negative or inappropriate language transfer. ==== Antonyms ==== noninterference ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === interference (third-person singular simple present interferences, present participle interferencing, simple past and past participle interferenced) (nonstandard) To interfere.