Interval
/ˈɪntərvəl/
Definitions
2 meaningsA period of time between two events or points in time; a space between things.
/ˈɪntərvəl/
A space of time between events.
We took a short interval during the concert to get some snacks.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're watching a show with a break in the middle. That break is an interval! It's just a pause or a little space of time between things.
👶 For kids: A little break or space in time.
More Examples
The doctor advised me to rest at regular intervals.
The bus arrives at 15-minute intervals.
How It's Used
"The movie had a short interval for refreshments."
"The musical interval between the two notes was a major third."
"Measure the time interval between the start and end of the experiment"
"The soccer game consists of two halves, each with a 15-minute interval."
The distance in pitch between two notes.
/ˈɪntərvəl/
The distance between two pitches in music.
The piano piece featured many complex intervals.
💡 Simply: In music, an interval is like the musical distance between two notes. If you play a high note and then a low one, the interval is the space between them.
👶 For kids: How far apart two musical notes are.
More Examples
Understanding intervals is crucial for music theory.
He practiced the intervals on his instrument to improve his skills.
How It's Used
"A perfect fifth is a common musical interval."
"Practice the intervals daily to improve your ear."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
at intervals
Happening or appearing from time to time, with breaks in between.
"The rain fell at intervals throughout the day."
From Latin *intervallum* ('space between'), derived from *inter* ('between') and *vallum* ('wall, rampart'). Originally referred to the space between fortifications.
Historically, the word often referred to the space between fortifications in military contexts, and later evolved to denote a period of time or distance.
Memory tip
Think of the space between periods in a school day – the interval allows us to switch classes.
Word Origin
"space between"