intersperse

American  

[in-ter-spurs] / ˌɪn tərˈspɜrs /

verb (used with object)

interspersed, interspersing

1. to scatter here and there or place at intervals among other things.

   to intersperse flowers among shrubs.

   Synonyms:

   sprinkle, strew

2. to diversify with something placed or scattered at intervals.

   to intersperse a dull speech with interesting anecdotes.

---

intersperse British  

/ ˌɪntəˈspɜːs, ˌɪntəˈspɜːsɪdlɪ, ˌɪntəˈspɜːʃən /

verb

1. to scatter or distribute among, between, or on

2. to diversify (something) with other things scattered here and there

---

Other Word Forms

• interspersal noun
• interspersedly adverb
• interspersion noun
• uninterspersed adjective

Etymology

Origin of intersperse

1560–70; < Latin interspersus (past participle of interspergere to strew here and there), equivalent to inter- inter- + -spersus, combining form of sparsus, past participle of spargere to scatter; disperse

Example Sentences

Then brush, predominantly whitethorn and manzanita, interspersed in waist-high thickets.

From Los Angeles Times

The book bristles with insight and originality, interspersing Vara’s more journalistic expositions with excurses and fragments curated from the author’s expansive digital life.

From Los Angeles Times

Officials have long warned that continued climate change could whipsaw California between precipitation extremes, with the state trending toward aridity, interspersed with exceptionally wet years.

From Los Angeles Times

Those links, which appear connected to the state government website, were interspersed with legitimate web address for the business services and other information provided by the secretary of state.

From Los Angeles Times

The website for Oura, maker of the smart ring that tracks your heart rate, movement and other health metrics, features screenshots of its app interspersed with reassuring reminders in italicized serif.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• infuse
• pepper
• sprinkle