Dictionary entry

Interval

Webster's Dictionary 1913

In″ter‐val (?), n. [L. intervallum; inter between + vallum a wall: cf. F. intervalle. See Wall.]

1. A space between things; a void space intervening between any two objects; as, an interval between two houses or hills.

'Twixt host and host but narrow space was left,

A dreadful interval. Milton.

2. Space of time between any two points or events; as, the interval between the death of Charles I. of England, and the accession of Charles II.

3. A brief space of time between the recurrence of similar conditions or states; as, the interval between paroxysms of pain; intervals of sanity or delirium.

4. (Mus.) Difference in pitch between any two tones.

At intervals, coming or happening with intervals between; now and then. “And Miriam watch'd and dozed at intervals.” Tennyson.Augmented interval(Mus.), an interval increased by half a step or half a tone.