intermittent

[ in-ter-mit-nt ]
/ ˌɪn tərˈmɪt nt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR intermittent ON THESAURUS.COM

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)

Words nearby intermittent

interminable, intermingle, intermission, intermissive, intermit, intermittent, intermittent acute porphyria, intermittent claudication, intermittent cramp, intermittent current, intermittent explosive disorder

Words related to intermittent

fitful, infrequent, recurrent, occasional, periodic, seasonal, recurring, alternate, arrested, broken, cyclical, discontinuous, hit-or-miss, interrupted, periodical, rhythmic, serial, spasmodic, cyclic, isochronal

Example sentences from the Web for intermittent

British Dictionary definitions for intermittent

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 intermittent

intermittent
[ ĭn′tər-mĭt′nt ]

adj.

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

Other words from intermittent

in′ter•mit′tence n.