intermezzo

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: in=ter=mez=zo

CIDE DICTIONARY

intermezzo, n. [It. See Intermede.].

 An interlude; an intermede. See Intermede.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

intermezzo, n. (pl. intermezzi or -os)
1 a a short connecting instrumental movement in an opera or other musical work. b a similar piece performed independently. c a short piece for a solo instrument.
2 a short light dramatic or other performance inserted between the acts of a play.

Etymology

It. f. L intermedium interval (as INTERMEDIATE)

THESAURUS

intermezzo

abeyance, act, afterpiece, anacrusis, bass passage, bit, bourdon, break, bridge, burden, cadence, caesura, cease-fire, chaser, chorus, coda, coffee break, curtain, curtain call, curtain raiser, day off, development, divertimento, divertissement, division, downtime, drop, epilogue, exode, exodus, exposition, expository scene, figure, finale, folderol, half time, half-time intermission, harmonic close, hesitation, hoke act, holiday, interim, interlude, intermission, intermittence, interregnum, interruption, interval, introduction, introductory phrase, lapse, layoff, letup, lull, measure, movement, musical phrase, musical sentence, number, off-time, ornament, part, passage, pause, period, phrase, plateau, point of repose, prologue, quiet spell, recess, refrain, relief, remission, resolution, respite, response, rest, resting point, ritornello, routine, scene, section, shtick, sketch, skit, song and dance, stand-down, stand-up comedy act, stanza, statement, stay, strain, striptease, suspension, tailpiece, time off, time out, truce, turn, tutti, tutti passage, vacation, variation, verse