interface

American  

[in-ter-feys, in-ter-feys, in-ter-feys] / ˈɪn tərˌfeɪs, ˈɪn tərˌfeɪs, ˌɪn tərˈfeɪs /

noun

• interfaces
  plural

1. a surface regarded as the common boundary of two bodies, spaces, or phases.

2. the facts, problems, considerations, theories, practices, etc., shared by two or more disciplines, procedures, or fields of study.

   the interface between chemistry and physics.

3. a common boundary or interconnection between systems, equipment, concepts, or human beings.

4. communication or interaction.

   Interface between the parent company and its subsidiaries has never been better.

5. a thing or circumstance that enables separate and sometimes incompatible elements to coordinate effectively.

   The organization serves as an interface between the state government and the public.

6. computer hardware or software designed to communicate information between hardware devices, between software programs, between devices and programs, or between a device and a user.

---

verb (used with object)

• interfaces,
  present (3rd person singular)
• interfaced,
  past participle,  past
• interfacing
  present participle

1. to bring into an interface.

2. to bring together; connect or mesh.

   The management is interfacing several departments with an information service from overseas.

verb (used without object)

• interfaces,
  present (3rd person singular)
• interfaced,
  past participle,  past
• interfacing
  present participle

1. to be in an interface.

2. to function as an interface.

3. to meet or communicate directly; interact, coordinate, synchronize, or harmonize (often followed bywith ).

   The two communications systems are able to interface with each other.

interface British  

/ ˌɪntəˈfeɪʃəl /

noun

1. chem a surface that forms the boundary between two bodies, liquids, or chemical phases

2. a common point or boundary between two things, subjects, etc

3. an electrical circuit linking one device, esp a computer, with another

---

verb

1. (tr) to design or adapt the input and output configurations of (two electronic devices) so that they may work together compatibly

2. to be or become an interface (with)

3. to be or become interactive (with)

interface Scientific  

/ ĭn′tər-fās′ /

1. The point of interaction or communication between a computer and any other entity, such as a printer or human operator.

2. The layout of an application's graphic or textual controls in conjunction with the way the application responds to user activity.

3. See more at GUI

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• interfacial
  adjective
• interfacially
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• interfaces
  plural

Participles

• interfacing
  present
• interfaced
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• interface
  simple
• interfaces
  simple
• have interfaced
  perfect
• has interfaced
  perfect
• am interfacing
  progressive
• are interfacing
  progressive
• is interfacing
  progressive
• have been interfacing
  perfect progressive
• has been interfacing
  perfect progressive

Past

• interfaced
  simple
• had interfaced
  perfect
• was interfacing
  progressive
• were interfacing
  progressive
• had been interfacing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will interface
  simple
• will have interfaced
  perfect
• will be interfacing
  progressive
• will have been interfacing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of interface

First recorded in 1880–85; inter- + face

Explanation

Think of an interface as a "face-to-face," a place where things, or people, or people and things (like you and your computer) meet. Any common boundary or area of convergence can be an interface. Used as a verb, interface means to merge or mingle, bonding and synthesizing by communicating and working together. The word interface is comprised of the prefix inter, which means "between," and face. In the 1960's, when computers first began to be commonly used, the word became familiar and now can simply mean “to meet.” Although "Shall we interface over coffee?" still feels a bit awkward.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

interface interfaces interfaced interfacing

"These structures can be systematically doped with silver and other ions and engineered to interface seamlessly with perovskites -- transforming DNA from a biological macromolecule into a programmable, multifunctional nanomaterials platform."

From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026

Like all mass-produced road vehicles, the Maverick depends on a digital interface, by way of two modest screens, including the center touch screen.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

She thinks iPods have become popular again because of their "beautiful design" and the way the music player is "the first bit of technology really catering to humans with a less cluttered user interface".

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026

With vibe coding lowering the barriers to entry, customers are paying for the unique data instead of the software user interface, Esfahani said.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026

The Hatchery’s site interface was designed to look and operate like an old pre-Internet dial-up bulletin board system, complete with the screech of a 300-baud modem during the log-in sequence.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

"Learning to engineer these interfaces with atomic precision opens new opportunities for designing future semiconductor devices that would be difficult to achieve by changing individual materials alone."

From Science Daily ● Aug. 9, 2026

On a recent Friday night, he was swiping through a tablet, showing four different interfaces of reservation apps.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

As the CoAl deforms, parts of these interfaces crystallize and help generate new dislocations.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 31, 2026

This could include official government early warning systems and disaster interfaces which news organisations can access.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

The only hints of modernization were a few simple computer interfaces in unobtrusive corners.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

Even the Cylons changed their tune as they interfaced with the survivors more frequently, shifting their aim from destruction to occupation.

From Salon ● May 5, 2026

So to suddenly have Guillermo show up, and that was the way that we really first interfaced.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 18, 2025

Typically, a rigid material like silicon is chiseled down to the nanoscale, then interfaced with other components like metal electrodes and insulating layers to form an active device.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 9, 2023

The code is interfaced with online notices from ERCOT, triggering servers to power down during times of extreme energy shortages.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 8, 2021

“I can do more than just see. The NeuroLink has always interfaced with the human brain,” Hideo continues.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu

The tech-invested will surely enjoy interfacing with the R2’s unique Haptic Halo selectors set into the lateral arms of the steering wheel.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 27, 2026

“At certain levels, we should worry about it because we don’t want to be interfacing with this virus,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 11, 2026

In our experience, seamless connecting and no cables cluttering the center console are reasons enough to insist on wireless smartphone interfacing.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 26, 2025

So… why is Antonio Banderas interfacing with someone in Macho Man cosplay for a Bosch commercial?

From Slate ● Feb. 10, 2025

I mean, it’s sweet that he thinks I can keep up with his thoughts on the approaching technological singularity and human-machine interfacing, but yeah.

From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon

Related Words

• advertise
• broadcast
• connect
• contact
• convey
• correspond
• disclose
• disseminate
• get across
• get through
• impart
• inform
• interact
• pass on
• publicize
• reach out
• relate
• reveal
• suggest
• tell