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interval - 8 dictionary results

in⋅ter⋅val

  [in-ter-vuhl]
Use interval in a Sentence
–noun
1. an intervening period of time: an interval of 50 years.
2. a period of temporary cessation; pause: intervals between the volleys of gunfire.
3. a space between things, points, limits, etc.; interspace: an interval of ten feet between posts.
4. Mathematics.
a. the totality of points on a line between two designated points or endpoints that may or may not be included.
b. any generalization of this to higher dimensions, as a rectangle with sides parallel to the coordinate axes.
5. the space between soldiers or units in military formation.
6. Music. the difference in pitch between two tones, as between two tones sounded simultaneously (harmonic interval) or between two tones sounded successively (melodic interval).
7. Chiefly New England. intervale.
8. Cards. a period in a game for placing bets.
9. British. an intermission, as between the acts of a play.
—Idiom
10. at intervals,
a. at particular periods of time; now and then: At intervals, there were formal receptions at the governor's mansion.
b. at particular places, with gaps in between: detour signs at intervals along the highway.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME intervall(e) < L intervallum interval, lit., space between two palisades. See inter-, wall

Related forms:
in⋅ter⋅val⋅ic, in⋅ter⋅val⋅lic  [in-ter-val-ik] , adjective

Synonyms:
3. opening, gap, separation, gulf.

in⋅ter⋅vale

  [in-ter-veyl]
–noun Chiefly New England.
a lowlying tract of land along a river.
Also, interval.

Origin:
var. of interval; by folk etym. taken as inter- + vale1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To interval
in·ter·val   (ĭn'tər-vəl)   
n.  
  1. A space between two objects, points, or units.
  2. The amount of time between two specified instants, events, or states.
  3. One of a series of predetermined distances covered at regular time increments with intermittent periods of rest in an athletic workout.
  4. Mathematics
    1. A set of numbers consisting of all the numbers between a pair of given numbers along with either, both, or none of the endpoints.
    2. A closed interval.
    3. An open interval.
    4. A half-open interval.
    5. A line segment representing the set of numbers in an interval.
  5. Chiefly British An intermission, as between acts of a play.
  6. Music The difference, usually expressed in the number of steps, between two pitches.

[Middle English intervalle, from Old French, from Latin intervallum : inter-, inter- + vallum, rampart.]
in'ter·val'ic, in'ter·val'lic (-vāl'ĭk) adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Interval

In"ter*val\, n. [L. intervallum; inter between + vallum a wall: cf. F. intervalle. See Wall.]

1. A space between things; a void space intervening between any two objects; as, an interval between two houses or hills.

'Twixt host and host but narrow space was left, A dreadful interval. --Milton.

2. Space of time between any two points or events; as, the interval between the death of Charles I. of England, and the accession of Charles II.

3. A brief space of time between the recurrence of similar conditions or states; as, the interval between paroxysms of pain; intervals of sanity or delirium.

4. (Mus.) Difference in pitch between any two tones.

At intervals, coming or happening with intervals between; now and then. "And Miriam watch'd and dozed at intervals." --Tennyson.

Augmented interval (Mus.), an interval increased by half a step or half a tone.

Interval

In"ter*val\, Intervale \In"ter*vale\, n. A tract of low ground between hills, or along the banks of a stream, usually alluvial land, enriched by the overflowings of the river, or by fertilizing deposits of earth from the adjacent hills. Cf. Bottom, n., 7. [Local, U. S.]

The woody intervale just beyond the marshy land. --The Century.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : interval
Spanish: intervalo,
German: der Zwischenraum,die Zwischenzeit,
Japanese: 間隔
More Translations »

interval 
c.1300, from O.Fr. intervalle (14c.), earlier entreval (13c.), from L.L. intervallum, originally "space between palisades or ramparts," from inter- "between" + vallum "rampart." Metaphoric sense of "gap in time" was present in L.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: in·ter·val
Pronunciation: 'int-&r-v&l
Function: noun
: a space of time between occurrences of a recurring condition orstate <intervals between coughing spells> <intervals of sanity>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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interval in·ter·val (ĭn'tər-vəl)
n.

  1. A space between two objects, points, or units.
  2. The amount of time between two specified instants, events, or states.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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