intergrade

American  

[in-ter-greyd, in-ter-greyd] / ˈɪn tərˌgreɪd, ˌɪn tərˈgreɪd /

noun

1. an intermediate grade, form, stage, etc.

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verb (used without object)

intergraded, intergrading

1. to merge gradually, one into another, as different species through evolution.

intergrade British  

verb

1. (intr) (esp of biological species, etc) to merge one into another

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noun

1. an intermediate stage or form

Other Word Forms

• intergradation noun
• intergradational adjective
• intergradient adjective

Etymology

Origin of intergrade

First recorded in 1870–75; inter- + grade

Example Sentences

Each of the fifty-seven animals studied from this region is an intergrade; some specimens combine the characters of three subspecies.

From The Pocket Gophers (Genus Thomomys) of Utah, Vol. 1 No. 1 Kansas University Publications. by Durrant, Stephen D.

The two subspecies of the Violet-green Swallow, thalassina and lepida, intergrade in Coahuila.

From Birds from Coahuila, Mexico by Urban, Emil K.

Remarks.—One specimen from Kanab is an intergrade between trumbullensis and absonus.

From The Pocket Gophers (Genus Thomomys) of Utah, Vol. 1 No. 1 Kansas University Publications. by Durrant, Stephen D.

Most likely this is the result of an examination of the intergrades only, for they do intergrade with the California species to the northward.

From Game Birds and Game Fishes of the Pacific Coast by Payne, Harry Thom

They intergrade with trumbullensis in the size and shape of the zygomatic arches and tympanic bullae.

From The Pocket Gophers (Genus Thomomys) of Utah, Vol. 1 No. 1 Kansas University Publications. by Durrant, Stephen D.