interferes

Interferes is the third-person singular present tense of the verb interfere. It describes involvement in a process or situation that disrupts, hinders, or intrudes, often in a way that is unwelcome. In ordinary language, examples include "Loud music interferes with sleep" and "The manager warned against anyone who interferes with the project." In scientific or technical contexts, it can mean to interact with another signal or phenomenon, affecting the outcome; for example, "Noise interferes with the signal" or "Two waves interfere with each other, producing an interference pattern."

Etymology: The word comes from Latin inter- "between" and ferre "to bear, carry," via the verb inter- ferre in the sense "to bring between." English early senses referred to placing oneself between things, and by the 16th–17th centuries developed the sense "to meddle" or "to impede" someone or something. The more neutral physical sense arose later as well.

Usage: Interferes typically carries a negative or disruptive nuance in everyday speech, especially when referring to people or actions. In scientific or technical writing, the sense is neutral, describing a legitimate interaction that can be constructive or destructive, as with wave interference. Common collocations include interferes with, interferes in, and interference as a noun. Related terms include intervene, meddle, and obstruction.

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