interlude

The definition of an interlude is a pause in something, such as a play, or is an intervening period of time in between two other things.

(noun)

A break in between your morning and afternoon work is an example of an interlude.
An intermission between two acts of a play is an example of an interlude.

See interlude in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a short, humorous play formerly presented between the parts of a miracle play or morality play
a short play of a sort popular in the Tudor period, either farcical or moralistic in tone and with a plot typically derived from French farce or the morality play
any performance between the acts of a play
instrumental music played between the parts of a song, liturgy, play, etc.
1. anything that fills time between two events
2. intervening time or, rarely, space

Origin: ME enterlude < OFr entrelude < ML interludium < L inter, between + ludus, play: see ludicrous

See interlude in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

An intervening episode, feature, or period of time: “Kerensky has a place in history, of a brief interlude between despotisms” (William Safire).
a. A short farcical entertainment performed between the acts of a medieval mystery or morality play.
b. A 16th-century genre of comedy derived from this.
c. An entertainment between the acts of a play.
Music A short piece inserted between the parts of a longer composition.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English enterlude, a dramatic entertainment

Origin: , from Old French entrelude

Origin: , from Medieval Latin interlūdium

Origin: : Latin inter-, inter-

Origin: + Latin lūdus, play; see leid- in Indo-European roots

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