intermezzo en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /ɪntɚˈmɛtsoʊ/ (General-American)
- /ɪntɛɹˈmɛdzoʊ/ Italian-like
- /ɪntəˈmɛtsəʊ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
Borrowed from Italian intermezzo. Doublet of intermede and intermedium
Meanings
-
A short piece of music or act in the interval of the main spectacle; a theatrical interlude.
She had ample time, too, to change for the next scene, which started with a longish intermezzo staged by a ballet company whose services Scotty had engaged [...].
1969, Vladimir Nabokov, Ada or Ardor, Penguin, published 2011, page 8:Thespis’ single actor served only to create an intermezzo between choral chants.
1924, Herbert Weir Smyth, “I. Introduction”, in Aeschylean Tragedy, page 19:
- 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.
- A tactical move which interrupts the execution of the current plan.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| intermezzos | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| intermezzi | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
intermezzo-like · wet intermezzo
Relateds
interlude · tenuki · zwischenzug
Translations (27)
ru интерме́дия (piece of music or act) · sv intermezzo (piece of music or act) · fr intermède (piece of music or act) · id intermezo (piece of music or act) · ga idirmhír (piece of music or act) · nb intermesso (piece of music or act) · el ιντερμέτζο (piece of music or act) · fi välisiirto (tactical move) · fi välisoitto (piece of music or act) · id intermeso (piece of music or act) · fi välijuoma (palate cleanser) · pt intermezzo (piece of music or act) · pl intermedium (piece of music or act) · pl intermezzo (piece of music or act) · cmn 頓挫 /顿挫 (tactical move) · ja インテルメッツォ (piece of music or act) · fi intermezzo (piece of music or act) · it intermezzo (piece of music or act) · ga idirchluiche (piece of music or act) · cmn 間奏曲 /间奏曲 (piece of music or act) · pl wstawka (piece of music or act) · ru интерме́ццо (piece of music or act) · el ιντερμέδιο (piece of music or act) · nb mellomspill (piece of music or act) · pl interludium (piece of music or act) · fi välinäytös (piece of music or act) · id selingan (piece of music or act)