Interval Meaning
Interval Definition & Usage
A period of time or a space between two events, actions, or states.
Examples
- "There was a brief interval between the speeches before the audience began to clap."
- "We enjoyed a short interval during the concert to stretch our legs."
- "The interval between the two exams was just long enough to grab a coffee."
- "The athletes took a five-minute interval after the first half of the match."
- "The company is considering a long interval before launching the new product."
The distance between two points on a scale, such as a number line or a graph.
Examples
- "The interval between 0 and 10 is represented on this number line."
- "The temperature fluctuated within an interval of 5 to 10 degrees Celsius."
- "In calculus, the integral of a function is calculated over a certain interval."
- "The time interval between two signals can be measured using precise instruments."
- "The graph shows the interval between the two data points clearly."
The difference in pitch between two musical notes.
Examples
- "The interval between the notes C and G is a perfect fifth."
- "To train your ear, you should learn to recognize different musical intervals."
- "The composer created a beautiful harmony by layering intervals of major and minor thirds."
- "In Western music, the octave is an interval that spans eight notes."
- "The singer struggled with intervals during the high notes of the song."
Cultural Context
The term 'interval' has roots in Latin, where 'intervallum' referred to a gap or space between objects or events. Over time, it was adopted into various fields like music, mathematics, and common speech. The word is versatile, capturing the idea of both temporal and spatial separations.
The Interval Between Worlds
Story
The Interval Between Worlds
It was a humid afternoon in the city, and Leo was sitting in the back row of the old theatre, waiting for the interval to end. The performance had been captivating, but the anticipation for the next act made every second of the interval feel endless. He couldn’t help but think about how the space between moments—whether in time or in life—was as important as the moments themselves. "Just a quick break," whispered a friend beside him, breaking his train of thought. Leo nodded absently, aware of how even short intervals could seem vast when you were lost in thought. As the curtain closed, the audience stood up and spilled out into the lobby, stretching and chatting. Leo grabbed a coffee, glancing at the time. The interval was only fifteen minutes, but it felt like much longer. In those brief moments, it was as if time itself had paused, allowing his mind to wander. Later, back in his seat, he realized how much could happen in an interval. It wasn’t just about the space between acts in a play or the time between two appointments. It was the space that allowed things to change, to shift. "You know," his friend said as the lights dimmed again, "an interval can change everything. It can be a chance to reset, to look at things from a different angle. Like a musical interval—small gaps that lead to something new." Leo smiled, feeling the resonance of the word 'interval' in both its temporal and musical senses. In a world that rushed forward without pause, it was the intervals—those fleeting moments of silence or pause—that made all the difference.
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