An event that causes a computer or other device to temporarily cease what it was doing and attend to a condition.

“The interrupt caused the packet handler routine to run.”

To disturb or halt (an ongoing process or action, or the person performing it) by interfering suddenly.

“A maverick politician repeatedly interrupted the debate by shouting.”

To divide; to separate; to break the monotony of.

“The evenness of the road was not interrupted by a single hill.”

To assert to (a computer) that an exceptional condition must be handled.

“The packet receiver circuit interrupted the microprocessor.”