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entr'acte

American  
[ahn-trakt, ahn-trakt, ahn-trakt] / ɑnˈtrækt, ˈɑn trækt, ɑ̃ˈtrakt /

noun

  • entr'actes
    plural
  1. the interval between two consecutive acts of a theatrical or operatic performance.

  2. a performance, as of music or dancing, given during such an interval.

  3. a piece of music or the like for such performance.


entr'acte British  
/ ɒnˈtrækt, ɑ̃trakt /

noun

  1. an interval between two acts of a play or opera

  2. (esp formerly) an entertainment during an interval, such as dancing between acts of an opera

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of entr'acte

First recorded in 1740–50; from French, equivalent to entre “between” (from Latin inter ) + acte “one of the main divisions of a play or opera”; see act


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The first opera CD he bought was a 1977 recording of duets by Luciano Pavarotti and Joan Sutherland, and he was struck by how cinematic the overture and entr’acte were.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 3, 2023

That sequel got pushed to next year because of the pandemic, but children can get a minion-sized new dose of the characters with this holiday themed entr’acte.

From New York Times ● Nov. 23, 2020

The Hateful Eight’s roadshow featured an overture of Ennio Morricone’s lush score and an entr’acte after the intermission.

From The Guardian ● Apr. 27, 2019

Just as it mattered to Soderbergh when he made the nearly five-hour biopic “Che,” which he exhibited roadshow-style, complete with old-fashioned overture and entr’acte.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 7, 2019

What if we rang down the curtain for ten minutes and had an entr'acte, eh?

From Miranda of the Balcony A Story by A. E. W. (Alfred Edward Woodle) Mason

That includes two songs for Egmont’s love, Klärchen, four entr’actes, a melodrama for Egmont as he approaches his execution and, powerfully as only Beethoven can, a battle cry.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 19, 2026

There are a couple of entr’actes in which the clown, teased by his former supervisor, inclines toward the Grinchy.

From New York Times ● Nov. 27, 2024

His position-paper entr’actes can be awkward and artless, much like the author himself.

From New York Times ● Nov. 13, 2017

Noh is essentially the inspiration for the two-person entr’actes, called knee plays, in “Einstein on the Beach.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 11, 2016

The play was stupid, and the entr'actes were long.

From The Continental Monthly, Vol. 6, No 4, August, 1864 Devoted To Literature And National Policy by Various

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