intermittent

[ in-ter-mit-nt ]
/ ˌɪn tərˈmɪt nt /

adjective

stopping or ceasing for a time; alternately ceasing and beginning again: an intermittent pain.
alternately functioning and not functioning or alternately functioning properly and improperly.
(of streams, lakes, or springs) recurrent; showing water only part of the time.

Origin of intermittent

1595–1605; < Latin intermittent- (stem of intermittēns) present participle of intermittere to intermit; see -ent

OTHER WORDS FROM intermittent

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH intermittent

continual continuous intermittent (see usage note at continual)

Example sentences from the Web for intermittence

British Dictionary definitions for intermittence

intermittent
/ (ˌɪntəˈmɪtənt) /

adjective

occurring occasionally or at regular or irregular intervals; periodic

Derived forms of intermittent

intermittence or intermittency, noun intermittently, adverb

Medical definitions for intermittence

intermittent
[ ĭn′tər-mĭtnt ]

adj.

Stopping and starting at intervals.
Marked by intervals of complete quietude occurring between two periods of activity.

Other words from intermittent

in′ter•mittence n.