/ ˌɪntəˈmɪʃn; NAmE -tərˈm-/ noun [ C , U ]
1.
( especially NAmE ) a short period of time between the parts of a play, film / movie, etc. :
Coffee was served during the intermission.
( NAmE )
After intermission, the second band played.
HELP NOTE : This meaning is only [U] in NAmE .
2.
a period of time during which sth stops before continuing again :
This state of affairs lasted without intermission for a hundred years.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Latin intermissio(n-) , from the verb intermittere , from inter- between + mittere let go.