(1)间隔时间，间歇(space or time between events)[C] [N(between)]：an～of a week between Christmas and New Year's Day 圣诞节和新年间隔一周;an～between two wars两场战争之间的间隔;the～of a lightning flash and the following thunder 闪电与随后雷鸣之间的间歇;a brief/short/regular～短暂/短暂/定期的间隔;an irregular～ 不定期的间隔;at 15-minute/monthly/quarterly～s 每隔15分钟/一个月/一个季度;at～s 每隔一段时间;without～s 没有间歇地;There was a long～before she answered the question. 过了好一会儿她才回答那个问题。He returned to work after an～of three months in hospital.住院三个月后他重返工作岗位。

(2)短暂持续时间(limited period of time during which sth happens)[尤pl]：sunny/showery/windy～s 放晴/下雨/刮风的时间;in the～s of leisure 在余暇时间;She has～s of freedom from pain.她的疼痛时隐时现。

(3)幕间休息(short break in a play，concert，etc)[C]：We had ice-cream in the～between the second and third acts of the play. 我们在第二和第三幕幕间休息时吃了冰激凌。

(4)间隙，间距(space between two or more things;gap;distance)[C][N(between)]：The proper～should be maintained between vehicles. 车辆之间应保持恰当的间距。The～between two trees measures 40 feet. 两棵树之间相隔40英尺。 in the～s between the houses 在房子间的空地上;at～s(of ten feet) 相隔一定(10英尺)的间隔;

(5)音程((music) difference in pitch between two notes)[C]：a harmonic～和声音程;

【辨异】interval与break和pause的区别见BREAK。