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

In southern Tamaulipas and eastern San Luis Potos�, these characters vary discordantly, thereby strongly suggesting that the two populations intergrade.

From A Taxonomic Revision of the Leptodactylid Frog Genus Syrrhophus Cope by Lynch, John D.

The subspecies cahooni and compositus of the Brown-throated Wren seem to intergrade in the southern part of the State.

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

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.

In color, some specimens seem to intergrade toward aureus.

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

Where the ranges of the two species meet in Washington they seem not to intergrade.

From Speciation of the Wandering Shrew by Findley, James S.