intersperse

[ in-ter-spurs ]
See synonyms for: intersperseinterspersed on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),in·ter·spersed, in·ter·spers·ing.
  1. to scatter here and there or place at intervals among other things: to intersperse flowers among shrubs.

  2. to diversify with something placed or scattered at intervals: to intersperse a dull speech with interesting anecdotes.

Origin of intersperse

1
1560–70; <Latin interspersus (past participle of interspergere to strew here and there), equivalent to inter-inter- + -spersus, combining form of sparsus, past participle of spargere to scatter; see disperse

Other words for intersperse

Other words from intersperse

  • in·ter·spers·ed·ly [in-ter-spur-sid-lee], /ˌɪn tərˈspɜr sɪd li/, adverb
  • in·ter·sper·sion [in-ter-spur-zhuhn or, especially British, -shuhn], /ˌɪn tərˈspɜr ʒən or, especially British, -ʃən/, in·ter·sper·sal, noun
  • un·in·ter·spersed, adjective

Words Nearby intersperse

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How to use intersperse in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for intersperse

intersperse

/ (ˌɪntəˈspɜːs) /


verb(tr)
  1. to scatter or distribute among, between, or on

  2. to diversify (something) with other things scattered here and there

Origin of intersperse

1
C16: from Latin interspargere, from inter- + spargere to sprinkle

Derived forms of intersperse

  • interspersedly (ˌɪntəˈspɜːsɪdlɪ), adverb
  • interspersion (ˌɪntəˈspɜːʃən) or interspersal, noun

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