Interval Time Lucid Period Day Noun Bre ˈɪntəvl

• the interval between major earthquakes might be 200 years.
• he knocked on the door and after a brief interval it was opened.
• there will be an interval of 20 minutes after the second act.
• she's delirious, but has lucid intervals.

interval

1. a period of time between two events
• The interval between major earthquakes might be 200 years.
• He knocked on the door and after a brief interval it was opened.
2. 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. a short period during which something different happens from what is happening the rest of the time
• She's delirious, but has lucid intervals.
• The day should be mainly dry with sunny intervals.
4. a difference in pitch (= how high or low a note sounds) between two notes
• an interval of one octave
5. with time between
• Buses to the city leave at regular intervals.
• The runners started at 5-minute intervals.
6. with spaces between
• Flaming torches were positioned at intervals along the terrace.

Extra Examples

• After a decent interval the actress made her new relationship public.
• At intervals a bell rings and workers stop for a drink.
• He returned home during the day at regular intervals.
• Meetings are held at monthly intervals.
• Polling day was a week away and Baldwin made two speeches in the interval.
• She ruled for ten years, except for a brief interval.
• The accounts were updated at irregular intervals.
• The intervals between his various illnesses grew shorter and shorter.
• They will be interviewed again after an appropriate time interval has elapsed.
• Trains run at fixed intervals.
• Try setting your automatic email checker to 30-minute intervals.
• You are advised to leave a wide interval before you have your next child.
• the amount of oxygen used by the muscles during a specified interval
• She’s delirious most of the time, but has lucid intervals.

Word Origin

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