/ 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.