I. ˈintə(r)vəl noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English intervalle, from Middle French, from Latin intervallum space between ramparts, interval, from inter- + vallum rampart — more at wall
1.
a. : a space of time between the recurrences of similar conditions or states : pause
interval between coughing spells
intervals of sanity
interval of thousands of years between glaciations
b. Britain : intermission
c. : the time between two events or points of time
firing at intervals of ten minutes
interval between a lightning flash and the following thunder
d. : a portion of the total time cycle of a traffic signal during which the signal indications do not change
2.
a. : a space between things : empty space between objects
posts set up at regular intervals along the road
buildings placed at wide intervals
b.
(1) : the space between elements in military formation in the direction of width — contrasted with distance
(2) : the distance between the foremasts of the guides of adjacent units in a compound naval formation
c. : the relative difference in pitch between two simultaneous or successive notes or tones
3. : something that breaks or interrupts a uniform series or surface : an intervening part
grazing land with brief intervals of forest
the road follows a winding course except for a few straight intervals
4. chiefly New England : bottom 6
5.
a. : the totality of numbers belonging to a given set of real numbers
b. : the totality of such numbers between the either including or excluding one or both of two end numbers of the set
c. : the totality of such numbers greater or less than and either including or excluding one of the numbers of the set
d. : a set of points on a line segment that represents one of these totalities
6. : a gap between different qualities or states that may be ideally filled with intervening grades
interval between savagery and culture
interval between landlord and tenant, master and servant, was less — T.B.Macaulay
Synonyms: see break
II. noun
: one of a series of fast-paced exercises interspersed with slower ones or brief rests for training (as of an athlete)