intermission

[ in-ter-mish-uh n ]
/ ˌɪn tərˈmɪʃ ən /

noun

a short interval between the acts of a play or parts of a public performance, usually a period of approximately 10 or 15 minutes, allowing the performers and audience a rest.
a period during which action temporarily ceases; an interval between periods of action or activity: They studied for hours without an intermission.
the act or fact of intermitting; state of being intermitted: to work without intermission.

Origin of intermission

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin intermissiōn- (stem of intermissiō) interruption, equivalent to intermiss(us) (past participle of intermittere to intermit) + -iōn- -ion

Example sentences from the Web for intermission

British Dictionary definitions for intermission

intermission
/ (ˌɪntəˈmɪʃən) /

noun

an interval, as between parts of a film
a period between events or activities; pause
the act of intermitting or the state of being intermitted

Derived forms of intermission

intermissive, adjective

Word Origin for intermission

C16: from Latin intermissiō, from intermittere to leave off, intermit