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).
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.
Dis"tance\, n. [F. distance, L. distantia.]1. The space between two objects; the length of a line, especially the shortest line joining two points or things that are separate; measure of separation in place. Every particle attracts every other with a force . . . inversely proportioned to the square of the distance. --Sir I. Newton. 2. Remoteness of place; a remote place. Easily managed from a distance. --W. Irving. 'T is distance lends enchantment to the view. --T. Campbell. [He] waits at distance till he hears from Cato. --Addison. 3. (Racing) A space marked out in the last part of a race course. The horse that ran the whole field out of distance. --L'Estrange. Note: In trotting matches under the rules of the American Association, the distance varies with the conditions of the race, being 80 yards in races of mile heats, best two in three, and 150 yards in races of two-mile heats. At that distance from the winning post is placed the distance post. If any horse has not reached this distance post before the first horse in that heat has reached the winning post, such horse is distanced, and disqualified for running again during that race. 4. (Mil.) Relative space, between troops in ranks, measured from front to rear; -- contrasted with interval, which is measured from right to left. "Distance between companies in close column is twelve yards." --Farrow. 5. Space between two antagonists in fencing. --Shak. 6. (Painting) The part of a picture which contains the representation of those objects which are the farthest away, esp. in a landscape. Note: In a picture, the Middle distance is the central portion between the foreground and the distance or the extreme distance. In a perspective drawing, the Point of distance is the point where the visual rays meet. 7. Ideal disjunction; discrepancy; contrariety. --Locke. 8. Length or interval of time; period, past or future, between two eras or events. Ten years' distance between one and the other. --Prior. The writings of Euclid at the distance of two thousand years. --Playfair. 9. The remoteness or reserve which respect requires; hence, respect; ceremoniousness. I hope your modesty Will know what distance to the crown is due. --Dryden. 'T is by respect and distance that authority is upheld. --Atterbury. 10. A withholding of intimacy; alienation; coldness; disagreement; variance; restraint; reserve. Setting them [factions] at distance, or at least distrust amongst themselves. --Bacon. On the part of Heaven, Now alienated, distance and distaste. --Milton. 11. Remoteness in succession or relation; as, the distance between a descendant and his ancestor. 12. (Mus.) The interval between two notes; as, the distance of a fourth or seventh. Angular distance, the distance made at the eye by lines drawn from the eye to two objects. Lunar distance. See under Lunar. North polar distance (Astron.), the distance on the heavens of a heavenly body from the north pole. It is the complement of the declination. Zenith distance (Astron.), the arc on the heavens from a heavenly body to the zenith of the observer. It is the complement of the altitude. To keep one's distance, to stand aloof; to refrain from familiarity. If a man makes keep my distance, the comfort is he keeps his at the same time. --Swift.
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.
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