entr'acte

[ ahn-trakt, ahn-trakt; French ahn-trakt ]
/ ɑnˈtrækt, ˈɑn trækt; French ɑ̃ˈtrakt /

noun, plural en·tr'actes [ahn-trakts, ahn-trakts; French ahn-trakt]. /ɑnˈtrækts, ˈɑn trækts; French ɑ̃ˈtrakt/.

the interval between two consecutive acts of a theatrical or operatic performance.
a performance, as of music or dancing, given during such an interval.
a piece of music or the like for such performance.

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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

Words nearby entr'acte

entoretina, entourage, entozoan, entozoic, entozoon, entr'acte, entrails, entrain, entrammel, entrance, entrance pupil
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for entr'acte

entr'acte
/ (ɒnˈtrækt, French ɑ̃trakt) /

noun

an interval between two acts of a play or opera
(esp formerly) an entertainment during an interval, such as dancing between acts of an opera

Word Origin for entr'acte

C19: French, literally: between-act
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