interstice
[in-tur-stis]
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noun, plural in·ter·stic·es [in-tur-stuh-seez, -stuh-siz] /ɪnˈtɜr stəˌsiz, -stə sɪz/.
an intervening space.
a small or narrow space or interval between things or parts, especially when one of a series of alternating uniform spaces and parts: the interstices between the slats of a fence.
Roman Catholic Church. the interval of time that must elapse, as required by canon law, before promotion to a higher degree of orders.
an interval of time.
Nearby words
- interstate commerce commission,
- interstate highway system,
- interstellar,
- interstellar medium,
- interstellar space,
- interstitial,
- interstitial cell,
- interstitial cell-stimulating hormone,
- interstitial cystitis,
- interstitial disease
Origin of interstice
1595–1605; < Latin interstitium, equivalent to interstit-, variant stem of intersistere to stand or put between + -ium -ium
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for interstices
interstice
noun (usually plural)
Word Origin for interstice
C17: from Latin interstitium interval, from intersistere, from inter- + sistere to stand
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
interstice
early 15c., from Old French interstice (14c.) and directly from Latin interstitium "interval," literally "space between," from inter- "between" (see inter-) + stem of stare "to stand" (see stet). Related: Interstices.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
interstice
[ĭn-tûr′stĭs]
n. pl. in•ter•stic•es (-stĭ-sēz′, -sĭz)
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
interstice
[ĭn-tûr′stĭs]
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.