ENGLISH
REFERENCE

interval

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈɪntɝvəɫ// UK //ˈɪntəvəl// in·ter·val Academic General-service

n. a period of time or a space between two things. You often use this to describe a short break during a play or a sports match.

n. a period of time between two events or a physical distance between two points. In musical contexts, it refers to the difference in pitch between two notes.


SIMPLE

There is a short interval between the two halves of the game.

CONTEXTUAL

The trains run at ten-minute intervals during the morning rush hour to prevent overcrowding on the platforms.

COMPLEX

The study measured the heart rate of participants at regular intervals over a twenty-four-hour period to account for circadian fluctuations in cardiovascular activity.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English interval, intervalle, from Old French intervalle, entreval, from Latin intervallum (“space between, interval, distance, interval of time, pause, difference; literally, space between two palisades or walls”), from inter (“between”) + vallum (“palisade, wall”).

Usage

Often used with the preposition 'between' or 'at' ('at intervals').

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