Verb

ein|greifen

to intervene, to interfere, to engage (gears)

Die Polizei musste in den Streit eingreifen.

The police had to intervene in the dispute.

Man sollte nicht in die Natur eingreifen.

One should not interfere with nature.

Die Zahnräder greifen ineinander ein.

The gears mesh with each other.

((in sth.acc)) to intervene in sth. The government intervened in the economy.

Synonyms: to meddle, to intervene

From 'ein-' (in, into) + 'greifen' (to grab, to seize). Literally 'to grab into' something.

Picture someone 'grabbing into' a fight to stop it. This visual helps to remember the meaning of intervention.

This page is designed for learning support. Please use it as a learning reference, not as a formal reference.