interceptor

/ˌɪntərˈsɛptər/
noun
  1. A person or thing that stops or catches something before it reaches its intended destination.
    • The goalkeeper acted as the final interceptor, stopping the ball just before it crossed the line.
    • The military deployed an interceptor to shoot down the incoming missile.
    • A network security interceptor blocks malicious traffic before it reaches the company's servers.
  2. A type of fast military aircraft designed to intercept and attack enemy aircraft.
    • The air force's new interceptor can reach speeds of over Mach 2.
    • During the Cold War, interceptors were stationed around the clock to guard against surprise attacks.
    • The pilot climbed into the cockpit of the sleek interceptor and prepared for takeoff.
What does "interceptor" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean