INTERVAL


Meaning of INTERVAL in English

/ ˈɪntəvl; NAmE ˈɪntərvl/ noun

1.

a period of time between two events :

The interval between major earthquakes might be 200 years.

2.

( BrE ) (also inter·mis·sion NAmE , BrE ) a short period of time separating parts of a play, film / movie or concert :

There will be an interval of 20 minutes after the second act.

3.

[ usually pl. ] a short period during which sth different happens from what is happening the rest of the time :

She's delirious, but has lucid intervals.

( BrE )

The day should be mainly dry with sunny intervals.

4.

( music ) a difference in pitch (= how high or low a note sounds) between two notes :

an interval of one octave

IDIOMS

- at ( ... ) intervals

••

WORD ORIGIN

Middle English : from Old French entrevalle , based on Latin intervallum space between ramparts, interval, from inter- between + vallum rampart.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.