interval

noun

IN-tur-vuhl/ˈɪntɚvəl/UKIN-tuh-vuhl/ˈɪntəvəl/

7 meanings of interval

1
nouncountable
A length of time between two events or points.
Like the time gap between one bus and the next.
There was a short interval between the two phone calls.
We waited for a long interval before the show began.
Similarpause, gap, period, lull, interlude
2
nouncountable
The space or distance between two things.
Like the space between two trees planted in a row.
Plant the seeds at an interval of about ten inches.
There was a wide interval between the two houses.
Similargap, space, distance
Note
3
nounBritishIndiacountable
A short break between the parts of a play, concert, or other performance.
Like a short rest in the middle of a long show.
We bought ice cream during the interval.
The play has one interval, about halfway through.
Similarintermission, break, interlude
Note
4
nouncountable
The difference in pitch between two musical notes.
Like the gap between two steps on a ladder, but for sounds.
The interval between those two notes sounds happy.
Singers practice jumping across a wide interval from one note to another.
Note
5
nouncountable
A set of all the numbers between two points on a number line.
Like all the numbers between two marks on a ruler.
All the numbers from one to ten make up an interval.
The answer must fall inside the given interval.
Note
6
nouncountable
A break in the middle of a game, between two periods of play.
Like a short rest in the middle of a game.
The teams rested during the interval.
We grabbed a snack at the interval.
Similarhalftime, break
Note
7
nouncountable
A break for lunch or tea between the parts of a day's cricket.
Like a meal break partway through a long day of work.
The players left the field for the lunch interval.
We had sandwiches during the interval.
Similarbreak
Note

Practice

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Origin

It comes from Latin intervallum, meaning the space between two walls. It is made of inter ("between") and vallum ("wall").