ENGLISH
REFERENCE

interlude

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //ˈɪntɝˌɫud// UK //ˈɪntəlˌuːd// in·ter·lude

n. a short period of time between two longer events. It is often a break in a play or a piece of music where you can rest or think about what you just saw.

n. a short period of time that intervenes between longer events or periods; specifically, a musical or dramatic piece performed between the main parts of a larger work.


SIMPLE

The band played a short acoustic interlude between their louder songs.

CONTEXTUAL

During the twenty-minute interlude, the audience moved to the lobby for refreshments before the second act began.

COMPLEX

The brief interlude of peace between the two wars allowed the nation to rebuild its infrastructure, though the underlying political tensions remained largely unresolved.

Synonyms
Origin

Latin inter- (“between”) + ludo (“to play”)

Usage

Often used with the preposition 'of' to describe the nature of the break, such as an 'interlude of calm'.

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