interstice

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: in=ter=stice

CIDE DICTIONARY

interstice, n. [L. interstitium a pause, interval; inter between + sistere to set, fr. stare to stand: cf. F. interstice. See Stand.].

•  That which intervenes between one thing and another; especially, a space between things closely set, or between the parts which compose a body; a narrow chink; a crack; a crevice; a hole; an interval; as, the interstices of a wall.  [1913 Webster]
•  An interval of time; specifically (R. C. Ch.), in the plural, the intervals which the canon law requires between the reception of the various degrees of orders.  [1913 Webster]

  "Nonobservance of the interstices . . . is a sin."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

interstice, n.
1 an intervening space.
2 a chink or crevice.

Etymology

L interstitium (as INTER-, sistere stit- stand)

THESAURUS

interstice

caesura, clearance, discontinuity, distance between, double space, em space, en space, freeboard, hair space, half space, hiatus, interim, intermediate space, interruption, interspace, interval, jump, lacuna, leap, leeway, margin, room, single space, space, space between, time interval

ROGET THESAURUS

interstice

Interval

N interval, interspace, separation, break, gap, opening, hole, chasm, hiatus, caesura, interruption, interregnum, interstice, lacuna, cleft, mesh, crevice, chink, rime, creek, cranny, crack, chap, slit, fissure, scissure, rift, flaw, breach, rent, gash, cut, leak, dike, ha-ha, gorge, defile, ravine, canon, crevasse, abyss, abysm, gulf, inlet, frith, strait, gully, pass, furrow, abra, barranca, barranco, clove, gulch, notch, yawning gulf, hiatus maxime, hiatus valde deflendus, parenthesis, void, incompleteness, period, interim (time), with an interval, far between, breachy, rimose, rimulose, at intervals, longo intervallo.