hiatus

American  

[hahy-ey-tuhs] / haɪˈeɪ təs /

noun

plural

hiatuses, hiatus

1. a break or interruption in the continuity of a work, series, action, etc.

2. a missing part; gap or lacuna.

   Scholars attempted to account for the hiatus in the medieval manuscript.

3. any gap or opening.

   Synonyms:

   space, interval, break

4. Grammar, Prosody. the coming together, with or without break or slight pause, and without contraction, of two vowels in successive words or syllables, as in see easily.

5. Anatomy. a natural fissure, cleft, or foramen in a bone or other structure.

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hiatus British  

/ haɪˈeɪtəs /

noun

1. (esp in manuscripts) a break or gap where something is missing

2. a break or interruption in continuity

3. a break between adjacent vowels in the pronunciation of a word

4. anatomy a natural opening or aperture; foramen

5. anatomy a less common word for vulva

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Other Word Forms

• hiatal adjective

Etymology

Origin of hiatus

First recorded in 1555–65; from Latin hiātus “opening, gap,” equivalent to hiā(re) “to gape, open” + -tus, noun suffix

Example Sentences

Jordan says the hiatus led them to reflect for the first time on whether their lifelong ambition was truly what they wanted.

From Los Angeles Times

Air China restarted direct flights between Beijing and Pyongyang on Monday after a six-year hiatus, another sign isolated North Korea is gradually opening up following the resumption of train services between the capitals.

From Barron's

The company disclosed on March 5 that buybacks had resumed on the prior day after a nearly two-year hiatus.

From Barron's

Merdeka Martin, 46, is putting herself on a socializing hiatus to keep herself from spending money on cocktails and meals out—and on the gas it takes to get there.

From The Wall Street Journal

That hiatus ended with a frightening hallucinogenic nightmare that you’ll have to read the book to learn about.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• interval
• lapse