noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ɪntəˈmɛtsəʊ/
General-American:/ɪntɚˈmɛtsoʊ/
/ɪntɛɹˈmɛdzoʊ/Italian-like
1
noun
Meaning 1
A short piece of music or act in the interval of the main spectacle; a theatrical interlude.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: art, arts, entertainment, lifestyle, music
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A palate cleanser; a small snack with a bright light neutral taste; a fruit; a fresh sparkling wine; or a fruity or milky cocktail; that is served between courses in a meal.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: cooking, food, lifestyle
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A tactical move which interrupts the execution of the current plan.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: board-games, chess, games
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
a brief show (music or dance etc) inserted between the sections of a longer performance
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: interlude, entr'acte
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: show
5
noun
Meaning 5
a short piece of instrumental music composed for performance between acts of a drama or opera
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: musical composition, opus, composition, piece, piece of music
6
noun
Meaning 6
a short movement coming between the major sections of a symphony
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: movement
History
Etymology
Borrowed from Italian intermezzo. Doublet of intermede and intermedium
Across languages
Translations
27 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Chinese Mandarin:
間奏曲 /间奏曲
(jiānzòuqǔ)
— piece of music or act
Finnish:
välisoitto
— piece of music or act
Finnish:
välinäytös
— piece of music or act
Finnish:
intermezzo
— piece of music or act
French:
intermède
— piece of music or act
Greek:
ιντερμέτζο
(intermétzo)
— piece of music or act
Greek:
ιντερμέδιο
(intermédio)
— piece of music or act
Indonesian:
intermeso
— piece of music or act
Indonesian:
intermezo
— piece of music or act
Indonesian:
selingan
— piece of music or act
Irish:
idirchluiche
— piece of music or act
Irish:
idirmhír
— piece of music or act
Italian:
intermezzo
— piece of music or act
Japanese:
インテルメッツォ
(interumettso)
— piece of music or act
Norwegian Bokmål:
mellomspill
— piece of music or act
Norwegian Bokmål:
intermesso
— piece of music or act
Polish:
interludium
— piece of music or act
Polish:
intermedium
— piece of music or act
Polish:
intermezzo
— piece of music or act
Polish:
wstawka
— piece of music or act
Portuguese:
intermezzo
— piece of music or act
Russian:
интерме́ццо
(intɛrmɛ́cco)
— piece of music or act
Russian:
интерме́дия
(intɛrmédija)
— piece of music or act