intersperse

[ in-ter-spurs ]
/ ˌɪn tərˈspɜrs /

verb (used with object), in·ter·spersed, in·ter·spers·ing.

to scatter here and there or place at intervals among other things: to intersperse flowers among shrubs.
to diversify with something placed or scattered at intervals: to intersperse a dull speech with interesting anecdotes.

Origin of intersperse

1560–70; < Latin interspersus (past participle of interspergere to strew here and there), equivalent to inter- inter- + -spersus, combining form of sparsus, past participle of spargere to scatter; see disperse

OTHER WORDS FROM intersperse

in·ter·spers·ed·ly [in-ter-spur-sid-lee] /ˌɪn tərˈspɜr sɪd li/, adverb in·ter·sper·sion [in-ter-spur-zhuhn or, esp. British, -shuhn] /ˌɪn tərˈspɜr ʒən or, esp. British, -ʃən/, in·ter·sper·sal, noun un·in·ter·spersed, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for interspersed

British Dictionary definitions for interspersed

intersperse
/ (ˌɪntəˈspɜːs) /

verb (tr)

to scatter or distribute among, between, or on
to diversify (something) with other things scattered here and there

Derived forms of intersperse

interspersedly (ˌɪntəˈspɜːsɪdlɪ), adverb interspersion (ˌɪntəˈspɜːʃən) or interspersal, noun

Word Origin for intersperse

C16: from Latin interspargere, from inter- + spargere to sprinkle