Standard Lemma guide

intermezzo

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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • 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
  • Swedish: intermezzo — piece of music or act
  • Finnish: välijuoma — palate cleanser
  • Chinese Mandarin: 頓挫 /顿挫 (dùncuò) — tactical move
  • Finnish: välisiirto — tactical move
Real reading context

intermezzo in complete knowledge articles