interval

[in-ter-vuh l] /ˈɪn tər vəl/
noun
1.
an intervening period of time:
an interval of 50 years.
2.
a period of temporary cessation; pause:
intervals between the volleys of gunfire.
3.
a space between things, points, limits, etc.; interspace:
an interval of ten feet between posts.
4.
Mathematics.
  1. the totality of points on a line between two designated points or endpoints that may or may not be included.
  2. any generalization of this to higher dimensions, as a rectangle with sides parallel to the coordinate axes.
5.
the space between soldiers or units in military formation.
6.
Music. the difference in pitch between two tones, as between two tones sounded simultaneously (harmonic interval) or between two tones sounded successively (melodic interval)
7.
Chiefly New England, intervale.
8.
Cards. a period in a game for placing bets.
9.
British. an intermission, as between the acts of a play.
Idioms
10.
at intervals,
  1. at particular periods of time; now and then:
    At intervals, there were formal receptions at the governor's mansion.
  2. at particular places, with gaps in between:
    detour signs at intervals along the highway.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English intervall(e) < Latin intervallum interval, literally, space between two palisades. See inter-, wall
Related forms
intervalic, intervallic
[in-ter-val-ik] /ˌɪn tərˈvæl ɪk/ (Show IPA), adjective
Can be confused
interval, period.
Synonyms
3. opening, gap, separation, gulf.
Examples from the web for interval
  • Each time you have an interval of two centuries you're going to have major changes.
  • In total she spent maybe six minutes away from her station, a reasonable interval on such a night.
  • If a confidence interval is narrow, a specific forecast carries some credibility.
  • We can discuss if there is some interval at which a patient should come in.
  • He stayed with her, excepting one bizarre interval, for the rest of his life.
  • Conversely, statistical predictions gain in accuracy as the time interval increases.
  • You've built a model of the time interval in your head, and that's what you're synchronizing with.
  • The interval between swallowing and defecation is long, but the time between meals can be even longer.
  • In any curved spacetime, the interval will be a different function of the coordinates.
  • The effect of all these flight plan modifications is that you spend an interval in the middle of the trip coasting.
British Dictionary definitions for interval

interval

/ˈɪntəvəl/
noun
1.
the period of time marked off by or between two events, instants, etc
2.
the distance between two points, objects, etc
3.
a pause or interlude, as between periods of intense activity
4.
(Brit) a short period between parts of a play, concert, film, etc; intermission
5.
(music) the difference of pitch between two notes, either sounded simultaneously (harmonic interval) or in succession as in a musical part (melodic interval). An interval is calculated by counting the (inclusive) number of notes of the diatonic scale between the two notes: the interval between C and G is a fifth
6.
the ratio of the frequencies of two sounds
7.
(maths) the set containing all real numbers or points between two given numbers or points, called the endpoints. A closed interval includes the endpoints, but an open interval does not
8.
at intervals
  1. occasionally or intermittently
  2. with spaces between
Derived Forms
intervallic (ˌɪntəˈvælɪk) adjective
Word Origin
C13: from Latin intervallum, literally: space between two palisades, from inter- + vallum palisade, rampart
Word Origin and History for interval
n.

early 14c., from Old French intervalle (14c.), earlier entreval (13c.), from Late Latin intervallum "space, interval, distance," originally "space between palisades or ramparts," from inter "between" (see inter-) + vallum "rampart" (see wall). Metaphoric sense of "gap in time" was present in Latin.

interval in Medicine

interval in·ter·val (ĭn'tər-vəl)
n.

  1. A space between two objects, points, or units.

  2. The amount of time between two specified instants, events, or states.