interlude
C1Formal to Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A short period of time between two longer parts of something, often providing a break or contrast.
A short piece of music, drama, or activity that happens between the main parts of a longer performance or event; a brief, often peaceful or reflective, interval.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a temporary pause or a contrasting episode within a larger, ongoing sequence. It can be a planned part of a structure (e.g., a musical interlude in an opera) or an unplanned, incidental break.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The term is equally used in both formal contexts like theatre, music, and literature.
Connotations
Slightly more literary or artistic in connotation than 'break' or 'interval'. In UK English, may be more readily associated with a short play or musical piece performed between acts.
Frequency
Moderately low frequency in everyday speech in both varieties, more common in written and artistic discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
interlude of [peace/calm/violence]interlude between [acts/wars/sessions]interlude in [the proceedings/the fighting/a relationship]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A brief interlude of sanity in the chaos.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically for a short, atypical period between major projects or phases of activity (e.g., 'The team enjoyed a quiet interlude between the product launch and the next development cycle').
Academic
Used in historical, literary, or musical analysis to describe a transitional or contrasting period or piece (e.g., 'The Restoration was a brief interlude between two periods of Puritan rule').
Everyday
Used to describe a short, pleasant break in routine (e.g., 'Our holiday was a wonderful interlude from the stress of work').
Technical
Specific meaning in music: a short piece played between sections of a larger composition; in theatre: a short performance between acts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The string quartet provided a delightful musical interlude.
- There was a strange interlude of silence during the storm.
- The holiday served as a peaceful interlude in their hectic year.
American English
- The band played a jazz interlude between sets.
- Their romance was just a summer interlude.
- The meeting was followed by a brief coffee interlude.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We had a short interlude for lunch during the long meeting.
- The film had a funny cartoon interlude in the middle.
- After the intense negotiations, the garden party offered a welcome interlude of calm.
- His time studying abroad was not merely a hiatus but a formative interlude that reshaped his worldview.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of INTERLUDE as an INTERruption that is not rude; it's a planned, often pleasant, LUDE (sounds like 'lude' from 'prelude' or 'postlude') in the middle.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A JOURNEY / A NARRATIVE (An interlude is a side-path or a separate chapter within the main journey/story.)
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'антракт' (antrakt), which is specifically an interval in a theatre or concert. 'Interlude' can be an антракт but is broader, covering any short intervening period.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'interlude' to describe a long period (it implies brevity).
- Confusing it with 'intervention' (which implies active involvement).
- Misspelling as 'interlood' or 'interlaud'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'interlude' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always. It can be a planned part of a performance (musical interlude) or an unexpected, incidental break in activity (an interlude of peace during a conflict).
An intermission is a specific, scheduled interval for rest in a theatre, concert, or film. An interlude can be shorter, less formal, and can occur within the activity itself (e.g., a musical piece played *during* a ceremony), not necessarily a full stop.
Typically, it is neutral or positive, suggesting a respite or contrast. However, it can be used negatively if the intervening period is undesirable (e.g., 'an interlude of violence').
It is more common in writing, formal speech, and artistic contexts. In everyday conversation, people are more likely to use 'break', 'pause', or 'gap'.
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