intermingle
C1Formal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
To mix or blend together; to become combined or interspersed.
To combine or cause to combine in a way where the separate elements become difficult to distinguish; often implies a thorough, intimate, or complex mixing of people, things, or ideas.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a more intimate, thorough, or complex mixing than simpler synonyms like 'mix'. It can carry connotations of social or cultural integration, or the intricate blending of abstract elements like sounds, colours, or emotions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is consistent.
Connotations
Slightly more formal/literary in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both UK and US English; perhaps marginally more common in written, descriptive contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] intermingle (with [Object])[Subject] intermingle [Object] (with [Object])Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specific to this word]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe the merging of markets, teams, or data streams.
Academic
Common in sociology, history, and literature to describe cultural, ethnic, or thematic blending.
Everyday
Used to describe people mixing at a party or ingredients in a dish.
Technical
Used in fields like chemistry, signal processing, or genetics to describe the combination of substances, signals, or genetic material.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Guests from different departments began to intermingle at the summer party.
- In the old city, medieval and modern architecture intermingle.
American English
- The two cultures have intermingled for centuries along the border.
- She intermingled her personal anecdotes with the historical facts.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form.]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form.]
adjective
British English
- [No standard adjectival form. 'Intermingled' is a participle used adjectivally: 'an intermingled crowd'.]
American English
- [No standard adjectival form. 'Intermingled' is a participle used adjectivally: 'intermingled threads of DNA'.]
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The children intermingle in the playground.
- At the international conference, people from many countries intermingled.
- Historical fact and legend are often inextricably intermingled in these ancient texts.
- The policy aims to prevent different data streams from intermingling.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of INTER (between) + MINGLE (mix). It's a more involved mixing *between* things.
Conceptual Metaphor
BLENDING IS PHYSICAL COMBINING (e.g., liquids, threads); SOCIAL INTERACTION IS PHYSICAL PROXIMITY.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque from 'перемешиваться' when a simpler 'mix' is sufficient. 'Intermingle' implies a deeper, less casual blend.
Common Mistakes
- Using it transitively without 'with' (e.g., 'He intermingled the groups' is less common than 'The groups intermingled'). Overusing it in place of simpler synonyms like 'mix'.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'intermingle' most appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral to formal. In everyday speech, 'mix' or 'mingle' are more common.
'Mingle' often means to move among people socially. 'Intermingle' emphasises a deeper, mutual blending where elements combine and influence each other.
Yes, but less commonly. The intransitive pattern (e.g., 'A and B intermingle' or 'A intermingles with B') is more frequent.
Yes, particularly in social sciences, biology, and chemistry to describe the blending of populations, substances, or data.
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