(computing, electronics) An event that causes a computer or other device to temporarily cease what it was doing and attend to a condition.

(transitive, intransitive) To disturb or halt (an ongoing process or action, or the person performing it) by interfering suddenly, especially by speaking.

(transitive) To divide; to separate; to break the monotony of.

(transitive, computing) To assert to (a computer) that an exceptional condition must be handled.