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between definition

be·tween (bē twēn′, bi-)

  1. in or through the space that separates (two things) between the house and the garage
  2. in or of the time, amount, or degree that separates (two things); intermediate to between blue and green
  3. that connects or relates to a bond between friends, the difference between right and wrong
  4. along a course that connects the road runs between here and there
    1. by the joint action of between them they landed the fish
    2. because of the combined effect of between work and studies she has no time left
    3. in or into the combined possession of they had fifty dollars between them
  6. with equal parts shared by each of they divided it between them
  7. to the exclusion of all but both of let's keep this matter between us
  8. from one or the other of choose between love and duty

Etymology: ME bitwene < OE betweonum < be, by + tweonum (dat. of *tweon); akin to Goth tweihnai, by twos, in pairs: for IE base see two

adverb

  1. in an intermediate space, position, or function
  2. in an intermediate time; in the interval
between Idioms

between ourselves

in confidence; as a secret
also between you and me

in between

  1. in an intermediate position
  2. in the midst of

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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