interval
/ˈɪntəvl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɪntərvl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈin-tər-vəl/ (ame, mw)
interval — 名詞
- intervalsingular
- intervalsplural
1. the period of time that passes from the end of one event to the beginning of the
時距
兩個事件之間的一段時間
the period of time that passes from the end of one event to the beginning of the next one
A long interval passed between Mira's phone call and the delivery van's arrival.
從 Mira 打電話到貨車送達之間，隔了很長一段時間。
collocation: long interval / short interval / brief interval
Imran filled the short interval between his jog and his shower with gentle stretches.
Imran 利用慢跑和淋浴之間的短暫空檔做了一些溫和的伸展。
Lien rested her eyes during the brief interval before the next class started.
Lien 在下一堂課開始前的短暫空檔休息了一下眼睛。
The interval between the two earthquakes measured roughly six months.
兩次地震之間相隔大約六個月的時間。
- gap
less formal and can refer to an unintended or accidental space; 'interval' implies a measured or planned period
- pause
shorter and suggests a temporary stop in the middle of something, not necessarily between two distinct events
- break
more informal and often implies rest or recreation, while 'interval' is more neutral
文法句型
interval between [noun] and [noun]
用法筆記
Countable but most often used in singular form. The plural is more common in sense 3 (at intervals).
常見錯誤
2. the physical distance or space that separates one object or point from another
間距
兩點或兩物體之間的空間
the physical distance or space that separates one object or point from another
Tunde measured the interval between each fence post before driving them into the ground.
Tunde 測量了每根籬笆樁之間的間距，然後才把它們打入地面。
collocation: narrow interval / wide interval
The narrow interval between the two bookshelves was too small for the armchair.
兩個書架之間的狹窄間距，放不下那張扶手椅。
Zayd left a generous interval between his car and the next one in the lot.
Zayd 在停車場裡把自己的車和隔壁車之間留了很大的空間。
The builder left an interval of two metres between each window frame.
建築工人讓每個窗框之間都留了兩公尺的間距。
文法句型
interval between [noun] and [noun]
常見錯誤
3. happening repeatedly with a regular amount of time or distance separating each i
每隔
每隔一段時間或距離重複一次
happening repeatedly with a regular amount of time or distance separating each instance from the next
The guard checked the laboratory doors at regular intervals throughout the night.
保全人員整晚每隔一段固定時間就去檢查實驗室的門。
phrase: at regular intervals
Eri heard a tapping sound at intervals of about ten seconds from the roof.
Eri 聽到屋頂傳來敲擊聲，大約每隔十秒出現一次。
The bus to the station stops at short intervals during the morning rush hour.
開往車站的公車在早上尖峰時間班次很密集。
Small white markers stood at intervals along the edge of the hiking trail.
沿著登山步道的邊緣，每隔一段距離就有一個白色的小標記。
- regularly
adverb covering the same idea; more direct but less precise about the periodic nature
- periodically
more formal and implies a fixed cycle; 'at intervals' allows for roughly regular spacing
文法句型
at intervals
at regular intervals
at intervals of [number] [unit]
用法筆記
Almost always appears as the plural noun in the fixed phrase 'at intervals'. The singular is never used in this pattern. 'At regular intervals' and 'at frequent intervals' are the most common collocations.
常見錯誤
4. a short break in the middle of a play, concert, film, or sports match, during wh
中場休息
表演或比賽中途的短暫休息
a short break in the middle of a play, concert, film, or sports match, during which the audience can rest or get refreshments
Christopher bought a drink and chatted with friends during the interval of the play.
Christopher 在戲劇中場休息時買了一杯飲料，和朋友聊了一會兒。
phrase: during the interval
Most of the audience went to the lobby for a drink during the interval.
大部分觀眾在休息時間都到大廳去買飲料。
Chiara and her classmates discussed the play during the short interval.
Chiara 和同學在短暫的中場休息時討論了那齣戲。
The theatre bar was crowded with people during the interval of the evening show.
晚場演出的中場休息時間，劇院酒吧擠滿了人。
- intermission
the American English equivalent; also used for sports events in both varieties
- break
more general and informal; does not specifically mean the middle of a performance
- half-time
specific to sports events, especially football and rugby
文法句型
during the interval
in the interval
用法筆記
Chiefly British usage. In American English, 'intermission' is the preferred term for the break in a performance or sports event. In British English, 'interval' is standard for theatre, cinema, and concerts.
常見錯誤
5. how much higher or lower one musical note sounds compared to another, measured a
音程
兩個音符在音高上的差距
how much higher or lower one musical note sounds compared to another, measured as a specific step on the scale
Eli practiced singing the interval of a fifth until his voice hit both notes cleanly.
Eli 練習唱五度音程，直到兩個音都能唱得準確。
collocation: interval of a fifth / third / octave
The music teacher asked Faisal to identify the interval between the two piano notes.
音樂老師請 Faisal 辨別那兩個鋼琴音之間的音程。
Isabela learned that a major third sounds bright, while a minor third feels sadder.
Isabela 學到大三度聽起來開朗，而小三度的感覺則比較憂傷。
The cellist practiced the interval from low C to the G above it for an hour.
那位大提琴手花了將近一小時練習從低音 C 到上方 G 的音程。
- step
more informal and used in basic music instruction, especially for adjacent notes on a scale
- pitch difference
descriptive rather than a standard term; not used by musicians as a label
文法句型
interval of a [type]
[type] interval
用法筆記
Musical intervals are named by their size (e.g. second, third, fifth, octave) and quality (e.g. major, minor, perfect, diminished, augmented). The word 'interval' is often omitted when the type name is clear, e.g. 'sing a fifth' rather than 'sing the interval of a fifth'.
常見錯誤
6. one short, high-effort burst of physical activity that is part of a training pla
間歇
高強度運動與休息交替的訓練單元
one short, high-effort burst of physical activity that is part of a training plan, with periods of rest or easier movement in between
Arjun ran five fast intervals on the track, each followed by a minute of slow jogging.
Arjun 在跑道上做了五趟快速衝刺間歇，每趟之間慢走一分鐘。
collocation: [number] intervals of [distance/duration]
Mira added short high-intensity intervals to her cycling routine to build speed.
Mira 在她的自行車訓練中加入了短時間的高強度間歇，以提升速度。
The coach had the swimmers do eight intervals of fifty metres with short rests.
教練讓游泳選手做八趟五十公尺的間歇訓練，每趟之間短暫休息。
Each swimming interval lasted forty-five seconds, followed by fifteen seconds of rest.
每趟游泳間歇持續四十五秒，之後休息十五秒。
文法句型
[number] intervals of [duration]
high-intensity interval
用法筆記
In fitness contexts, 'intervals' is often used without 'training' to mean the intense segments themselves. The term appears most frequently in the plural because a session typically involves several repetitions. 'High-intensity interval training' (HIIT) is the standard name for this method.
常見錯誤
7. in mathematics, the group of all real numbers that lie between a lower limit and
區間
介於兩個端點之間的所有實數集合
in mathematics, the group of all real numbers that lie between a lower limit and an upper limit, sometimes including either or both of those limits
The problem asked Tunde to find all integers within the interval from two to eight.
那題數學要 Tunde 找出二到八這個區間內的所有整數。
collocation: interval from [number] to [number]
The teacher asked the class to graph the function over the interval from one to five.
老師要全班畫出該函數在一到五區間內的圖形。
A closed interval includes both of its endpoints, but an open interval does not.
閉區間包含兩個端點，而開區間則不包含。
The function is defined over the interval from zero to four on the x-axis.
該函數在 x 軸上從零到四的區間內有定義。
文法句型
interval from [number] to [number]
open interval
closed interval
用法筆記
Notation: square brackets [ ] mean the endpoint is included (closed interval), round brackets ( ) mean it is excluded (open interval). This notation is used consistently in mathematics worldwide. 'Interval' in this sense is always countable and usually singular.