In a computer system or a data processing system, a circuit, or a group of circuits, that (a) continuously monitors system operations, (b) detects events that normally require human or machine intervention, and (c) initiates an interrupt. synonyms  interrupt circuit,  interruption network,  interrupt network. See also  circuit,  computer system,  data processing system,  detection,  event,  group,  interrupt,  monitor,  operation,  system.