intercalate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to interpolate; interpose.
-
to insert (an extra day, month, etc.) in the calendar.
verb
-
to insert (one or more days) into the calendar
-
to interpolate or insert
Other Word Forms
- intercalation noun
- intercalative adjective
- unintercalated adjective
Etymology
Origin of intercalate
First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin intercalātus, past participle of intercalāre “to insert a day or month into the calendar,” equivalent to inter- “between, among, together” + calā- (stem of calāre “to proclaim”) + -tus past participle suffix; inter-
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.
These intercalating molecules seem to affect viral rather than bacterial DNA.
From Nature
The homogenous inner portion of the shell, primarily consisting of highly cross-linked polymer lignin, lent itself to the fabrication of inter-dilated graphene layers perfect for intercalating large sodium ions as an efficient anode.
From Scientific American
Gene models within the syntenic blocks were compared based on a sliding window representing 10 gene models with an allowance of two intercalated gene models.
From Nature
Ends and means become intricately intercalated in complex cyclical complex systems, tending to obscure the basic operations of those systems, especially when they themselves possess semiotic and interpretive abilities.
From Salon
A year consists of twelve lunar months; so that every two or three years it becomes necessary to add another month: in nineteen years there are seventeen of these intercalated months.
From Project Gutenberg
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
