interlude

American  

[in-ter-lood] / ˈɪn tərˌlud /

noun

1. an intervening episode, period, space, etc.

   Synonyms:

   pause, intermission, respite, interval

2. a short dramatic piece, especially of a light or farcical character, formerly introduced between the parts or acts of miracle and morality plays or given as part of other entertainments.

3. one of the early English farces or comedies, as those written by John Heywood, which grew out of such pieces.

4. any intermediate performance or entertainment, as between the acts of a play.

5. an instrumental passage or a piece of music rendered between the parts of a song, church service, drama, etc.

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interlude British  

/ ˈɪntəˌluːd /

noun

1. a period of time or different activity between longer periods, processes, or events; episode or interval

2. theatre a short dramatic piece played separately or as part of a longer entertainment, common in 16th-century England

3. a brief piece of music, dance, etc, given between the sections of another performance

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Other Word Forms

• interludial adjective

Etymology

Origin of interlude

1275–1325; Middle English < Medieval Latin interlūdium, equivalent to Latin inter- inter- + lūd ( us ) play + -ium -ium

Example Sentences

It’s too early to tell, of course, whether these deals mark a lasting peace or a brief interlude before fighting resumes.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Tuesday hearing is an interlude in a longer hearing that began last November over the LA Alliance’s contention that the city repeatedly failed to comply with the 2022 settlement.

From Los Angeles Times

In a post to Truth Social, the president called the performance that included interludes by Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin “absolutely terrible.”

From Salon

“You need to say everything you have never said before to them that you’ve always wanted to say,” she says of the exercise they conducted for the interludes.

From Los Angeles Times

There was a brief interlude while Gelifen objected, and his feathers were smoothed, and Mal ate more than her fair share of the remaining cheese and raised her eyebrows at Christopher, daring him to object.

From Literature

Related Words

• breathing space
• idyll
• lull
• respite