intergrade

[ noun in-ter-greyd; verb in-ter-greyd ]

noun

1. an intermediate grade, form, stage, etc.

verb (used without object)

, in·ter·grad·ed, in·ter·grad·ing.

1. to merge gradually, one into another, as different species through evolution.

intergrade

verb

1. intr (esp of biological species, etc) to merge one into another

noun

1. an intermediate stage or form

Derived Forms

• ˌintergraˈdation, noun
• ˌintergraˈdational, adjective
• ˌinterˈgradient, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of intergrade¹

First recorded in 1870–75; inter- + grade

Example Sentences

For the present it seems best to regard the specimen merely as an intergrade.

From Project Gutenberg

He noted that the animals from this region intergrade with planirostris.

From Project Gutenberg

No family is more difficult to subdivide, for the various forms intergrade inextricably.

From Project Gutenberg

It seems, therefore, that these two subspecies intergrade on the interior slope of the range.

From Project Gutenberg

Also, Dipodomys oklahomae was not known to intergrade with any other named kinds.

From Project Gutenberg