Home UK English interface

Meaning of interface in English:

interface

noun

  • 1A point where two systems, subjects, organizations, etc. meet and interact.

    ‘the interface between accountancy and the law’
    • ‘Significant potential for new intervention strategies lies at the interface between these systems.’
    • ‘The key account manager acts as the primary interface between the supplier organization and the customer.’
    • ‘Yet the distinction is not always clear, as the interface between individual and organizational workplace issues is often significant and complex.’
    • ‘The transmission system is the interface between generation and distribution.’
    • ‘And secondly, there seems to be a problem with the interface between the mental health part of the system and other parts of the health system, especially in the community.’
    • ‘His interests shifted when he met a professor who studied the interface between psychology and philosophy.’
    • ‘A braking actuation system serves as the interface between the driver and the braking system.’
    • ‘A clear and agreed agenda for the private sector's role is essential, together with proper systems to develop, manage, and monitor the interface between both sectors.’
    • ‘Versailles was the working interface between the divinely appointed monarch and his elite subjects, and kept them occupied, under the king's eye and out of mischief.’
    • ‘‘If we didn't understand the interface between design and marketing, we'd just be selling jerseys,’ says Moon.’
    • ‘‘Achieving the Vision’ was formulated by the Local Strategic Partnership, an interface between business and the regulators.’
    • ‘But there has been a concern among researchers that the interface between these two policy areas has been characterised by poor policy coherence and weak delivery.’
    • ‘Mr.Thampan feels that the scientific establishment in the State should aim at improving the interface between industry and research institutions.’
    • ‘Each Member State is represented on this committee, which is the interface between the Commission and the Council, and it is here that positions on issues are sussed out.’
    • ‘Today's shallow, thrust-type earthquake occurred off the west coast of northern Sumatra at the interface between the India and Burma plates.’
    • ‘Coastal lands - the interface between land and sea - are of significant ecological, economic, and cultural importance.’
    • ‘At times the road seemed to be no more than a tenuous interface between massive swells of two very different natures - implacable ocean and eternal earth.’
    • ‘The various denominations and theological camps act as the interface between the believer and the kernel of the evangelical faith.’
    • ‘Since interviewers represent the interface between the research and the respondent, they have an important role in maximizing the response rate for the survey.’
    • ‘Both works explored the interface between two cultures.’
    1. 1.1Physics A surface forming a common boundary between two portions of matter or space, for example between two immiscible liquids.
      ‘the surface tension of a liquid at its air/liquid interface’
      • ‘To get this weak force to effectively push a liquid surface, the team produced a liquid interface with low surface tension.’
      • ‘The setup is currently upgraded by the simultaneous measurement of the surface tension of the interface.’
      • ‘The effect of other properties of the interfaces (polarity, surface charge density) remains to be precisely determined.’
      • ‘The fact that proteins readily adsorb to solid surfaces in a liquid/solid surface interface is a well-recognized phenomenon.’
      • ‘Our results suggest that the adsorption of pulmonary surfactant to an air-liquid interface can be considered in terms of two sequential steps.’

  • 2Computing
    A device or program enabling a user to communicate with a computer.

    ‘a graphical user interface’
    • ‘They use a natural interface which enables users to highlight, scribble notes, bookmark and annotate.’
    • ‘Using these interfaces enables numerous Windows programs to view mainframe data directly.’
    • ‘The interaction between the computer interface and the user is far from perfect even for people who are computer literate.’
    • ‘A new type of computer interface is to enable blind people to feel and hear 3D graphic environments.’
    • ‘Running an embedded version of Windows XP, the device should have a familiar interface for most users.’
    1. 2.1A device or program for connecting two items of hardware or software so that they can be operated jointly or communicate with each other.
      ‘an application program interface’
      • ‘The gateway holds the hardware interfaces and software protocol stacks to get all the various technologies talking nicely to one another.’
      • ‘Its standardized platform hardware interface allows the software and drivers to work across various platforms.’
      • ‘A laptop with recording software and a USB interface can serve as a totally portable recording studio.’
      • ‘A switching function provides both connectivity and required text-based interfaces to area law enforcement databases.’
      • ‘We will look not only at the hardware but also at the software support and multi-media interface in great detail.’
      contact, dealings, relations, connection, association, communion, socializing, interaction, intercourse, social intercourse, social relations, interface, interchange, correspondence, dialogue, talk, conversation, discussion, speaking, talking, chatting, meeting, getting in touch

verb

[no object]interface with

  • 1Interact with (another system, person, etc.)

    ‘you will interface with counterparts from sister companies’
    • ‘All systems will have to be automated, and operating and control systems will have to be able to interface with medical systems.’
    • ‘Sadly an older model couldn't interface with the phone system, leaving her stuck with this.’
    • ‘The other units, already notified and instructed by the node, began to interface with the weapons systems and set up a force in the docking bay.’
    • ‘In the last century, idea-based art concepts began requiring viewers to meet art objects halfway, and to interface with ideas through art, not just passively look at the art.’
    • ‘This is especially true when even a dedicated unit is asked to interface with the rest of the police department.’
    • ‘We will interface with machines through thought signals.’
    • ‘It is also essential that different departments do not bring their revised systems on-line prior to checking that other systems that interface with their own are able to seamlessly link into each other.’
    • ‘They've discovered that on average we interface with 832 individuals, meeting roughly half of those, engaging with the rest via telephone or e-mail.’
    • ‘To do this successfully, they needed a rather fluid system that could interface successfully between their clients' culture and the media culture.’
    • ‘The Committee has been using customary law practices to interface with the law and justice system through pre-court conferencing and other similar initiatives.’
    • ‘A winning team creates its own PR but the media, who interface with the public, play a crucial role at all times, and most especially when things are not going right on the field.’
    • ‘Members of the media had an opportunity to interface with the promoters and six of the band members at a press conference at the Marriott hotel, Mucurapo yesterday.’
    • ‘A major step for the DWP pension fund would be to create a committee to interface with independent auditors, Simpson said.’
    • ‘On his walls are plans for an array of laboratories that will eventually interface with the Sanger Institute for genetics and the cancer unit in Addenbrooke's hospital.’
    • ‘He also has telekinesis for some reason, it's repeatedly referred to as the ability to interface with machinery, but by the end of the show he doesn't need to touch it to control it.’
    • ‘Those are the individuals I have to interface with when there are incidents.’
    • ‘At the Butler Gallery, he has chosen to interface with four other artists, all born in Rio de Janeiro during the 1960s.’
    • ‘It is extremely easy to interface with it and adapt it for your use.’
    • ‘If they are a danger to the public, they mustn't be allowed to interface with us, but surely the mentally ill should be treated?’
    • ‘And yes, the building could've interfaced with the exhibits better.’
    liaise, be in touch, be in contact, be in communication, make contact, have dealings, interface, commune, meet, meet up

  • 2Computing
    Connect with (another computer or piece of equipment) by an interface.

    ‘the hotel's computer system can interface automatically with the booking system’
    with object ‘a device which can be interfaced with a computer’
    • ‘One of Linux's greatest assets is its ability to add value to legacy technology investments by connecting and interfacing with old equipment or software.’
    • ‘Ideally, it would interface with your computer desktop.’
    • ‘The sound and video tracks are run on a DVD player, modified to interface with the computer.’
    • ‘That's when real certification will happen - guaranteeing that different companies' equipment will interface properly.’
    • ‘Dry contacts also are provided to interface with dialers or data systems for remote monitoring.’
    cooperate, work together, collaborate

Pronunciation

interface

/ˈɪntəfeɪs/