in·ter·face (?n?t?r-f?s?)n.1. A surface forming a common boundary between adjacent regions, bodies, substances, or phases.2. A point at which independent systems or diverse groups interact: “the interface between crime and politics where much of our reality is to be found” (Jack Kroll).3. Computers a. A system of interaction or communication between a computer and another entity such as a printer, another computer, a network, or a human user. b. A device, such as a cable, network card, monitor, or keyboard, that enables interaction or communication between a computer and another entity.c. The layout or design of the interactive elements of a computer program, an online service, or an electronic device.v. (?n?t?r-f?s?) in·ter·faced, in·ter·fac·ing, in·ter·fac·es v.tr.1. To join by means of an interface.2. To serve as an interface for.v.intr.1. To serve as an interface or become interfaced.2. Usage Problem To interact or coordinate smoothly: “Theatergoers were lured out of their seats and interfaced with the scenery” (New York Times).in?ter·fa?cial adj.Usage Note: The noun interface, meaning “a surface forming a common boundary, as between bodies or regions,” has been around since the 1880s. But the word did not really take off until the 1960s, when it began to be used in the computer industry to designate the point of interaction between a computer and another system, such as a printer. The word was applied to other interactions as well?between departments in an organization, for example, or between fields of study. Shortly thereafter, interface developed a use as a verb, but many people objected to it, considering it an example of bureaucratic jargon. The Usage Panel has been unable to muster much enthusiasm for the verb. In our 2011 survey, 57 percent found it unacceptable in an example designating interaction between people: The managing editor must interface with a variety of freelance editors and proofreaders. This level of disapproval is only slightly lower than the 63 percent recorded in our 1995 survey, suggesting that writers who wish to avoid a jargony tone would do well to avoid the usage. In 2011, a slightly larger percentage disapproved of interface in examples indicating interaction between a corporation and the public (66 percent) or between various communities in a city (65 percent).American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.interface n 1. (Chemistry) 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. (Computer Science) an electrical circuit linking one device, esp a computer, with another vb 4. (Computer Science) (tr) to design or adapt the input and output configurations of (two electronic devices) so that they may work together compatibly 5. (Computer Science) to be or become an interface (with) 6. to be or become interactive (with) interfacial adj ?inter?facially advCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014in?ter?face (n. ??n t?r?fe?s; v. also ??n t?r?fe?s) n., v. -faced, -fac?ing. n. 1. a surface regarded as the common boundary of two bodies, spaces, or phases. 2. the area shared by or linking two or more disciplines or fields of study. 3. a common boundary or interconnection between systems, equipment, concepts, or people. 4. something that enables separate and sometimes incompatible elements to coordinate or communicate. 5. communication or interaction. 6. computer hardware or software designed to communicate information between hardware devices, between software programs, between devices and programs, or between a computer and a user. v.t. 7. to bring into an interface. 8. to bring together; connect or mesh. v.i. 9. to be in an interface. 10. to function as an interface. 11. to meet or communicate directly; interact; coordinate. [1880?85] Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.interfaceA boundary or point common to two or more similar or dissimilar command and control systems, sub-systems, or other entities against which or at which necessary information flow takes place.Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. US Department of Defense 2005.interfacePast participle: interfacedGerund: interfacingImperativePresentPreteritePresent ContinuousPresent PerfectPast ContinuousPast PerfectFutureFuture PerfectFuture ContinuousPresent Perfect ContinuousFuture Perfect ContinuousPast Perfect ContinuousConditionalPast ConditionalImperativeinterfaceinterfacePresentI interfaceyou interfacehe/she/it interfaceswe interfaceyou interfacethey interfacePreteriteI interfacedyou interfacedhe/she/it interfacedwe interfacedyou interfacedthey interfacedPresent ContinuousI am interfacingyou are interfacinghe/she/it is interfacingwe are interfacingyou are interfacingthey are interfacingPresent PerfectI have interfacedyou have interfacedhe/she/it has interfacedwe have interfacedyou have interfacedthey have interfacedPast ContinuousI was interfacingyou were interfacinghe/she/it was interfacingwe were interfacingyou were interfacingthey were interfacingPast PerfectI had interfacedyou had interfacedhe/she/it had interfacedwe had interfacedyou had interfacedthey had interfacedFutureI will interfaceyou will interfacehe/she/it will interfacewe will interfaceyou will interfacethey will interfaceFuture PerfectI will have interfacedyou will have interfacedhe/she/it will have interfacedwe will have interfacedyou will have interfacedthey will have interfacedFuture ContinuousI will be interfacingyou will be interfacinghe/she/it will be interfacingwe will be interfacingyou will be interfacingthey will be interfacingPresent Perfect ContinuousI have been interfacingyou have been interfacinghe/she/it has been interfacingwe have been interfacingyou have been interfacingthey have been interfacingFuture Perfect ContinuousI will have been interfacingyou will have been interfacinghe/she/it will have been interfacingwe will have been interfacingyou will have been interfacingthey will have been interfacingPast Perfect ContinuousI had been interfacingyou had been interfacinghe/she/it had been interfacingwe had been interfacingyou had been interfacingthey had been interfacingConditionalI would interfaceyou would interfacehe/she/it would interfacewe would interfaceyou would interfacethey would interfacePast ConditionalI would have interfacedyou would have interfacedhe/she/it would have interfacedwe would have interfacedyou would have interfacedthey would have interfacedCollins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011interfaceCircuits converting computer signals into a form that other electronic equipment can read.Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited