I. ˌintə(r)ˈmēdēˌāt, usu -ād.+V intransitive verb
Etymology: Medieval Latin intermediatus, past participle of intermediare, from Latin inter- + Late Latin mediare to mediate — more at mediate
1. : to come between : intervene , interpose
2. : to act as intermediate agent : mediate
II. |intə(r)|mēdēə̇t, chiefly Brit -mējə̇- or -mēdyə̇-; usu -ə̇d.+V adjective
Etymology: Medieval Latin intermediatus, from Latin intermedius intermediate (from inter- + medius mid, middle) + -atus -ate — more at mid
1. : lying or being in the middle place or degree : between extremes or limits : coming or done in between : intervening
intermediate hue
intermediate credit
intermediate stage of growth
intermediate stops on a journey
intermediate sizes
2.
a. : of or relating to the period between primary and secondary education usually comprising the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades
b. : of or relating to the stage between the introductory and advanced stages of a course of study or training
intermediate French
intermediate piano pupil
c. : taken during the first year after matriculation at a British university other than Oxford or Cambridge
intermediate examination
an intermediate course
— compare previous examination , responsion 2b
III. noun
( -s )
1. : something intermediate : a term, member, class, or quality between others of a series
2. : one that acts between others : mediator , intermediary
3. : an intermediate biological type or form
4. : a chemical compound formed as an intermediate step between the starting material and the final product (as a dye intermediate)
5.
a. : a wool-carding machine that comes between the breaker and the finisher
b. : a machine in cotton manufacture placed between the slubbing billy and the roving frame
6.
a. : idler wheel
b. : the second speed in a vehicle having three forward speeds
IV. preposition
: in the time intervening between — used in law
waste committed intermediate the sale and the period when the right to redeem expired — T.M.Cooley
V. noun
1. : an automobile larger than a compact but smaller than a full-sized automobile
2. : a chemical compound synthesized from simpler compounds and usually intended to be used in later syntheses of more complex products