An interlude is a short period of time when an activity or situation stops and something else happens.
It was a happy interlude in the Kents' life.
Superb musical interludes were provided by Sinclair.
Synonyms: interval, break, spell, stop More Synonyms of interlude
interlude in British English
(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
Word origin
C14: from Medieval Latin interlūdium, from Latin inter- + lūdus play
interlude in American English
(ˈɪntərˌlud)
noun
1.
a short, humorous play formerly presented between the parts of a miracle play or morality play
2.
a short play of a sort popular in the Tudor period, either farcical or moralistic in tone and with a plot typically derived from French farce or the morality play
3.
any performance between the acts of a play
4.
instrumental music played between the parts of a song, liturgy, play, etc.
5.
a.
anything that fills time between two events
b.
intervening time or, rarely, space
Word origin
ME enterlude < OFr entrelude < ML interludium < L inter, between + ludus, play: see ludicrous
Examples of 'interlude' in a sentence
interlude
The shadows are soon chased away by comic interludes.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The latter is a particular irritant during the musical interludes.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The game is just a short interlude in your life.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The only really arresting music is the orchestral interlude depicting a mountain blizzard.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Fans will be pleased to know that the evocative orchestral interludes and tedious autopsy scenes remain intact.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
You were a charming interlude in her life.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Surely the audience deserved a much better musical interlude than the truly awful singer and equally awful song belted out.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
There are also three musical interludes.
The Sun (2011)
For many of us, the comic interlude was the only reason for watching.
The Sun (2014)
Elsewhere, there are wacky comic interludes.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But as yet it was only an interlude in music hall's domination.
Judith Flanders Consuming Passions: Leisure and Pleasure in Victorian Britain (2006)
Lack of gravitas makes the musical interludes seem glib, rather than an ironic counterpoint to the action.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It's fun to talk about because we worked so hard and then there was this interlude where life went on.
The Sun (2016)
Comic interludes within the interlude.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Two musical interludes stand out.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
There are comic interludes - such as her letters to Madonna.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The theme is war, killing and heavy machinery, with light musical interludes.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Word lists with
interlude
Types of composition
In other languages
interlude
British English: interlude NOUN
An interlude is a short period of time when an activity or situation stops and something else happens.
It was a happy interlude in the couple's life.
American English: interlude
Brazilian Portuguese: interlúdio
Chinese: 间歇
European Spanish: intervalo
French: intervalle
German: Intermezzo
Italian: intervallo
Japanese: 合間
Korean: 막간
European Portuguese: interlúdio
Latin American Spanish: intervalo
(noun)
Definition
a period of time or different activity between longer periods or events
It was a happy interlude in her life.
Synonyms
interval
During the interval, wine was served.
break
They always play that music during the break.
spell
There has been a spell of dry weather.
stop
The last stop in his lengthy tour was Paris.
rest
He took a rest from teaching.
halt
Air traffic has been brought to a halt.
episode
pause
There was a brief pause in the conversation.
respite
I rang home during a brief respite at work.
stoppage
breathing space
We hope that it will give us some breathing space.
hiatus
Efforts to reach a settlement resume today after a two-week hiatus.
intermission
Drinks were served during the intermission.
entr'acte
Additional synonyms
in the sense of break
They always play that music during the break.
Synonyms
interval,
pause,
recess,
interlude,
intermission,
entr'acte
in the sense of breathing space
Definition
a short period during which a difficult situation temporarily becomes less severe
We hope that it will give us some breathing space.