interstice

noun

in·ter·stice in-ˈtər-stəs How to pronounce interstice (audio)

plural interstices in-ˈtər-stə-ˌsēz How to pronounce interstice (audio)

-stə-səz

: a space that intervenes between things

especially : one between closely spaced things

interstices of a wall

: a gap or break in something generally continuous

the interstices of society

passages of genuine literary merit in the interstices of the ludicrous … plots

Joyce Carol Oates

: a short space of time between events

Did you know?

You don't need to read between the lines to understand the history of interstice; its etymology is plain to see. Interstice derives from the Latin interstitium, which is itself formed from the prefix inter-, meaning "between," and -stes, meaning "standing." Interstices are the cracks and crevices of life, and the word is often used for both the literal and figurative gaps of the world. In modern uses, interstice can even refer to gaps in time or to special niches in the larger expanse of something else. Evolutionary biologist Stephen Jay Gould used it, for example, to comment, "Dinosaurs held sway for 100 million years while mammals, all the while, lived as small animals in the interstices of their world."

Example Sentences

there's an occasional interstice in the tedium, but most of the novel is boring pesky weeds growing in the interstices between the flagstones

Recent Examples on the Web Like it or not, many people fill in every interstice of their day by whipping out their phone and flicking through feeds.

Mark Van Wye, Forbes, 15 June 2021 With a gray interstice, Bradley then cuts to the present day, with the Richardson family getting dressed to visit Rob at the Louisiana State Penitentiary.

Samantha N. Sheppard, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2020 In the jargon of literary criticism, these in-between states are called interstitial – an interstice is a small space between something else, like the cracks in a sidewalk.

Melissa Mohr, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 June 2020 In the structure of the tire, the pure cheese is acting as the interstice, bonding the sturdy and static aggregate materials together while still giving them flexibility and shock absorption.

Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 2 Apr. 2020 Instead of drama and imagination, the movie depends on a relentless blare of music, by John Williams, which takes the place of any emotional complexity that might dare to sneak through the interstices.

Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 19 Dec. 2019 David Robertson, in the pit, lavished attention on the interstices of Gershwin’s score—the leitmotivic web that holds the big numbers together.

Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2019 Its molten rage has dripped through the interstices of our daily lives.

Gerard Baker, WSJ, 5 Oct. 2018 The interstice between Jack’s insides and his skin — that chasm of echoing hollow, the miserable Gas that kept him from himself, and from the world, had been closed.’’Voth’s situation is much less dramatic.

Clea Simon, BostonGlobe.com, 22 June 2018 See More

单词	interstices
释义	interstice noun in·ter·stice in-ˈtər-stəs plural interstices in-ˈtər-stə-ˌsēz -stə-səz 1 a : a space that intervenes between things especially : one between closely spaced things interstices of a wall b : a gap or break in something generally continuous the interstices of society passages of genuine literary merit in the interstices of the ludicrous … plots Joyce Carol Oates 2 : a short space of time between events Did you know? You don't need to read between the lines to understand the history of interstice; its etymology is plain to see. Interstice derives from the Latin interstitium, which is itself formed from the prefix inter-, meaning "between," and -stes, meaning "standing." Interstices are the cracks and crevices of life, and the word is often used for both the literal and figurative gaps of the world. In modern uses, interstice can even refer to gaps in time or to special niches in the larger expanse of something else. Evolutionary biologist Stephen Jay Gould used it, for example, to comment, "Dinosaurs held sway for 100 million years while mammals, all the while, lived as small animals in the interstices of their world." Synonyms discontinuity gap hiatus hiccup hiccough interim interlude intermission interregnum interruption interval parenthesis See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences there's an occasional interstice in the tedium, but most of the novel is boring pesky weeds growing in the interstices between the flagstones Recent Examples on the Web Like it or not, many people fill in every interstice of their day by whipping out their phone and flicking through feeds. Mark Van Wye, Forbes, 15 June 2021 With a gray interstice, Bradley then cuts to the present day, with the Richardson family getting dressed to visit Rob at the Louisiana State Penitentiary. Samantha N. Sheppard, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2020 In the jargon of literary criticism, these in-between states are called interstitial – an interstice is a small space between something else, like the cracks in a sidewalk. Melissa Mohr, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 June 2020 In the structure of the tire, the pure cheese is acting as the interstice, bonding the sturdy and static aggregate materials together while still giving them flexibility and shock absorption. Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 2 Apr. 2020 Instead of drama and imagination, the movie depends on a relentless blare of music, by John Williams, which takes the place of any emotional complexity that might dare to sneak through the interstices. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 19 Dec. 2019 David Robertson, in the pit, lavished attention on the interstices of Gershwin’s score—the leitmotivic web that holds the big numbers together. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2019 Its molten rage has dripped through the interstices of our daily lives. Gerard Baker, WSJ, 5 Oct. 2018 The interstice between Jack’s insides and his skin — that chasm of echoing hollow, the miserable Gas that kept him from himself, and from the world, had been closed.’’Voth’s situation is much less dramatic. Clea Simon, BostonGlobe.com, 22 June 2018 See More Word History Etymology Middle English, from Latin interstitium, from inter- + -stit-, -stes standing (as in superstes standing over) — more at superstition First Known Use 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Medical Definition interstice noun in·ter·stice in-ˈtər-stəs plural interstices -stə-ˌsēz -stə-səz : a space between closely spaced things (as teeth) interstices noun plural of interstice 1 as in intervals a break in continuity there's an occasional interstice in the tedium, but most of the novel is boring Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance intervals gaps interruptions pauses spaces discontinuities interspaces interludes intermissions parentheses lulls interregnums hiccups hiatuses interims windows hiccoughs interregna caesuras lags commas time lags caesurae rests suspensions bumpers entr'actes recesses respites adjournments discontinuances lapses subintervals Antonyms & Near Antonyms continuities continuations stretches runs continua progressions continuums processions See More 2 as in gaps an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge) pesky weeds growing in the interstices between the flagstones Synonyms & Similar Words gaps crevices holes voids openings fissures discontinuities intervals rifts cracks interspaces rents breaches pores slits clefts slots gulfs separations cavities apertures breaks crannies hiatuses orifices fractures chasms chinks splits abysses ruptures notches gapes severances
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interstice

noun

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Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Medical Definition

noun

noun