in|trude

in|trude «ihn TROOD», verb, -trud|ed, -trud|ing.

–v.i.

to thrust oneself in; come unasked and unwanted: »

If you are busy, I will not intrude. Do not intrude upon the privacy of your neighbors.

–v.t.

1. to give (something) unasked and unwanted; force in: »

Do not intrude your opinions upon others.

2. Geology. to thrust in; force in: »

rock melted by heat and intruded into fissures.

╂[< Latin intrūdere < in- in + trūdere to thrust, push]

–in|trud´er, noun.

–in|trud´ing|ly, adverb.

Synonym Study intransitive verb. Intrude, trespass, encroach mean to invade the rights or property of another. Intrude implies thrusting in where one is unwanted, uninvited, or has no right to go and often suggests rudeness and invasion of privacy: »

I was unwilling to intrude upon them so late at night. He intrudes upon their hospitality.

Trespass means to intrude unlawfully or in an offensive manner: »

The hunters trespassed upon the farmer's land. She often unthinkingly trespasses upon my time. He trespassed on my brother's paper route.

Encroach means to trespass upon the property or rights of another, usually secretly or gradually: »

Our neighbor's irrigation system is encroaching on our land.