Adjacent Words

Interval definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

IN'TERVAL, n. [L. intervallum; inter and vallum, a wall, or vallus, a stake.
1. A space between things; a void space intervening between any two objects; as an interval between two columns, between two pickets or palisades, between two houses or walls, or between two mountains or hills.
2. Space of time between any two points or events; as the interval between the death of Charles I. of England and the accession of Charles II.' the interval between two wars. Hence we say, an interval of peace.
3. The space of time between two paroxysms of disease, pain or delirium; remission; as an interval of ease, of peace, of reason.
4. The distance between two given sounds in music, or the difference in point of gravity or acuteness.
5. A tract of low or plain ground between hills, or along the banks of rivers,usually alluvial land enriched by the overflowings of rivers, or by fertilizing deposits of earth from the adjacent hills. [De. Belknap writes this intervale; I think improperly.]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a definite length of time marked off by two instants [syn: time interval, interval]
2: a set containing all points (or all real numbers) between two given endpoints
3: the distance between things; "fragile items require separation and cushioning" [syn: interval, separation]
4: the difference in pitch between two notes [syn: interval, musical interval]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English intervalle, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French entreval, from Latin intervallum space between ramparts, interval, from inter- + vallum rampart — more at wall Date: 14th century 1. a. a space of time between events or states b. British intermission 2. a. a space between objects, units, points, or states b. difference in pitch between tones 3. a set of real numbers between two numbers either including or excluding one or both of them 4. one of a series of fast-paced exercises interspersed with slower ones or brief rests for training (as of an athlete) • intervallic adjective

U.S. Military Dictionary

(*) 1. The space between adjacent groups of ships or boats measured in any direction between the corresponding ships or boats in each group. 2. The space between adjacent individuals, ground vehicles, or units in a formation that are placed side by side, measured abreast. 3. The space between adjacent aircraft measured from front to rear in units of time or distance. 4. The time lapse between photographic exposures. 5. At battery right or left, an interval ordered in seconds is the time between one gun firing and the next gun firing. Five seconds is the standard interval. 6. At rounds of fire for effect the interval is the time in seconds between successive rounds from each gun.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 an intervening time or space. 2 Brit. a pause or break, esp. between the parts of a theatrical or musical performance. 3 the difference in pitch between two sounds. 4 the distance between persons or things in respect of qualities. Phrases and idioms: at intervals here and there; now and then. Derivatives: intervallic adj. Etymology: ME ult. f. L intervallum space between ramparts, interval (as INTER-, vallum rampart)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Interval In"ter*val, n. [L. intervallum; inter between + vallum a wall: cf. F. intervalle. See Wall.] 1. A space between things; a void space intervening between any two objects; as, an interval between two houses or hills. 'Twixt host and host but narrow space was left, A dreadful interval. --Milton. 2. Space of time between any two points or events; as, the interval between the death of Charles I. of England, and the accession of Charles II. 3. A brief space of time between the recurrence of similar conditions or states; as, the interval between paroxysms of pain; intervals of sanity or delirium. 4. (Mus.) Difference in pitch between any two tones. At intervals, coming or happening with intervals between; now and then. ``And Miriam watch'd and dozed at intervals.'' --Tennyson. Augmented interval (Mus.), an interval increased by half a step or half a tone.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Interval In"ter*val, Intervale In"ter*vale, n. A tract of low ground between hills, or along the banks of a stream, usually alluvial land, enriched by the overflowings of the river, or by fertilizing deposits of earth from the adjacent hills. Cf. Bottom, n., 7. [Local, U. S.] The woody intervale just beyond the marshy land. --The Century.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(intervals) 1. An interval between two events or dates is the period of time between them. The ferry service has restarted after an interval of 12 years... = gap N-COUNT: oft N of n 2. An interval during a film, concert, show, or game is a short break between two of the parts. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use intermission) During the interval, wine was served... N-COUNT 3. If something happens at intervals, it happens several times with gaps or pauses in between. She woke him for his medicines at intervals throughout the night. PHRASE: PHR with v 4. If things are placed at particular intervals, there are spaces of a particular size between them. Several red and white barriers marked the road at intervals of about a mile... PHRASE: PHR with v

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. Interstice, space between, intermediate space. 2. Season, spell, period, term, space of time, intermediate time, intervening time or period.

Moby Thesaurus

abeyance, amount, aperture, arrearage, breach, break, broaching, caesura, caliber, cavity, cease-fire, cessation, chasm, check, clearing, cleft, coffee break, comma, compass, consecutive intervals, crack, cut, day, day off, defalcation, defect, deficiency, deficit, degree, delay, diapason, diatessaron, diatonic interval, diatonic semitone, disclosure, discontinuity, distance, downtime, drop, enharmonic diesis, enharmonic interval, extent, fateful moment, fenestra, fifth, fissure, fistula, fontanel, foramen, fourth, gap, gape, gat, grade, gulf, half step, half time, half-time intermission, halftone, height, hesitation, hiatus, hole, holiday, hollow, hour, inlet, instant, interim, interlude, intermezzo, intermission, intermittence, interregnum, interruption, interstice, juncture, kairos, lack, lacuna, lapse, laying open, layoff, leak, leap, less semitone, letup, level, lull, mark, meantime, meanwhile, measure, melodic interval, minute, missing link, moment, moment of truth, need, notch, note, nuance, octave, off-time, omission, opening, opening up, orifice, outage, outlet, parallel octaves, parenthesis, pas, passageway, pause, peg, period, pitch, plane, plateau, point, point of repose, pore, pregnant moment, proportion, psychological moment, quiet spell, range, ratio, reach, recess, relief, remission, remove, respite, rest, resting point, round, rung, scale, scope, season, second, semitone, seventh, shade, shadow, shortage, sixth, slot, space, span, spell, split, stage, stair, stand-down, standard, stay, step, stint, stoma, stretch, suspension, third, throwing open, time, time lag, time off, time out, tone, tread, truce, ullage, uncorking, unison interval, unstopping, vacation, void, wait, want, wantage, while, whole step, yawn