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intermittent Definition

in·ter·mit·tent (in′tər mit′'nt)

adjective

stopping and starting at intervals; pausing from time to time; periodic

Etymology: L intermittens, prp. of intermittere: see intermit

intermittent Related Forms

in′·ter·mit′·tence noun in′·ter·mit′·tently adverb

intermittent Synonyms

intermittent

modif.

periodic, alternate, shifting, coming and going, recurrent, sporadic, irregular, broken, seasonal, rhythmic, serial, epochal, cyclical, cyclic, discontinuous, interrupted, every other, spasmodic, on and off, fitful, occasional, now and then, by snatches*, here and there*, on-again off-again*; see also irregular 1.

Antonyms constant*, lasting*, incessant.

intermittent and recurrent both apply to something that stops and starts, or disappears and reappears, from time to time, but the former usually stresses the breaks or pauses, and the latter, the repetition or return an intermittent fever, recurrent attacks of the hives; periodic refers to something that recurs at more or less regular intervals periodic economic crises; alternate is usually used of two recurrent things that succeed each other in turns alternate stripes of blue and white, a life of alternate sorrow and joy

intermittent Usage Examples

Preposition: in

nature: This may cause any number of apparent faults with serial communications which may also be intermittent in nature.

Modifies a noun

  • claudication: Figure: Effects of exercise on walking distance or time compared with placebo in patients with intermittent claudication Adverse effects None were reported.
  • catheterisation: Of all the patients in the study, only two patients were being treated by intermittent catheterisation.
  • self-catheterisation: Intermittent self-catheterisation involves passing a tube ( catheter ) up the urethra into the bladder, to drain off any liquid.
  • catheter: Today there is a wide range of intermittent catheters available.
  • porphyria: The skin is never affected in acute intermittent porphyria.
  • drizzle: Slight intermittent drizzle was to be with us for the rest of the day.

Modifying Another Word

  • usually: The result is usually intermittent banging caused by pockets of steam.
  • only: After the Turkish attack and until May 24th there was only intermittent sniping.
  • very: Long gap but returned in force during July and early August but then very intermittent through September.
  • not: They are baseload and not intermittent so they do not need extra backup or grid reinforcement.
  • somewhat: Their end can be either abrupt or somewhat intermittent.
  • often: The symptoms of system incompatibility with audio hardware are often intermittent clicks or drop-outs.

Used with adjective complement

  • become: The precipitation remained light all evening, becoming intermittent by midnight.
  • experience: She continued to experience intermittent swelling of her right leg following standing for any prolonged period.
  • have: If your car does not have intermittent wipe ( if it does why are you reading this?
  • seem: It seemed intermittent so wrote everything it was doing down on paper and booked the car into Renault dealer.
  • go: There are 4 general faults with electric kettles Standard plug-in kettles Heating element may just " die " , or sometimes go intermittent.