interface
noun · verb
Simple meaning
The connection between a user and a machine.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
interfaysSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈɪntɚfeɪs
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
computing
The point of interconnection between systems or subsystems.
The point of interconnection or contact between entities.
computing
The connection between a user and a machine.
verb
transitive
To construct an interface for.
intransitive
To serve as an interface.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- A1 · Beginner (estimated)
- Frequency
- Very Common
- Typical Use
- Varies by meaning
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: The point of interconnection between systems or subsystems.
Used this way, interface is a specialist word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. This is a computing use: it carries a fixed technical meaning inside software and systems work.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Specialist/technical
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Specialized
- Connotation
- Clinical and technical
- Usage feel
- Technical and specialized
Where it naturally appears
- Technology
- Technical/specialist writing
- Business/professional
Usage note
In general conversation this sense usually needs explaining — outside its field, people reach for a plainer word.
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use interface
- “The new software has a very user-friendly interface.”noun
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Word family
Words built from the same root.
Related to The point of interconnection between systems or subsystems.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
A user interface based on graphics (icons and pictures and menus) instead of text.
A standard protocol for communication between electronic musical instruments and computers.
An interface forming the boundary between the non-miscible liquids oil and water.
An interface between a computer and a printer where the computer sends multiple bits of information to the printer simultaneously.
Interface consisting of a standard port between a computer and its peripherals that is used in some computers.
A user interface in which you type commands instead of choosing them from a menu or selecting an icon.
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.