entr'acte

[ ahn-trakt, ahn-trakt; French ahn-trakt ]

noun

, plural en·tr'actes [ahn-, trakts, ahn, -trakts, ah, n, -, trakt].

1. the interval between two consecutive acts of a theatrical or operatic performance.
2. a performance, as of music or dancing, given during such an interval.
3. a piece of music or the like for such performance.

entr'acte

/ ɒnˈtrækt; ɑ̃trakt /

noun

1. an interval between two acts of a play or opera
2. (esp formerly) an entertainment during an interval, such as dancing between acts of an opera

Word History and Origins

Origin of entr'acte¹

First recorded in 1740–50; from French, equivalent to entre “between” (from Latin inter ) + acte “one of the main divisions of a play or opera”; act

Word History and Origins

Origin of entr'acte¹

C19: French, literally: between-act