interstitial

[in-ter-stish-uh l]

adjective

pertaining to, situated in, or forming interstices.
Anatomy. situated between the cells of a structure or part: interstitial tissue.

noun

Crystallography. an imperfection in a crystal caused by the presence of an extra atom in an otherwise complete lattice.Compare vacancy(def 6).

Origin of interstitial

1640–50; < Latin interstiti(um) interstice + -al¹

Related formsin·ter·sti·tial·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for interstitial

Contemporary Examples of interstitial

Your use of the second person in interstitial sections of the novel is so powerful, and unique.
Susan Minot on Africa, Joseph Kony, and the Limits of Writing About Love
Lea Carpenter
February 10, 2014

Historical Examples of interstitial

I transplanted in him the interstitial gland of a male goat.
The Goat-gland Transplantation
Sydney B. Flower
The varieties are glandular, interstitial, haemorrhagic and senile.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 7
Various
The muscles in protracted cases suffer simple atrophy, but are sometimes the seat of an interstitial accumulation of fat.
A System of Practical Medicine By American Authors, Vol. II
Various
Injuries that may be of no consequence to healthy persons may excite in the purpuric profuse hemorrhage, free or interstitial.
A System of Practical Medicine By American Authors, Vol. II
Various
The changes are mainly of a parenchymatous or catarrhal rather than an interstitial nature, the epithelium being disposed to shed.
A System of Practical Medicine By American Authors, Vol. II
Various

British Dictionary definitions for interstitial

interstitial

adjective

of or relating to an interstice or interstices
physics forming or occurring in an intersticean interstitial atom
chem containing interstitial atoms or ionsan interstitial compound
anatomy zoology occurring in the spaces between organs, tissues, etcinterstitial cells

noun

chem an atom or ion situated in the interstices of a crystal lattice

Derived Formsinterstitially, adverb

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

Word Origin and History for interstitial

adj.

1640s, from Latin interstitium (see interstice) + -al (1). Related: Interstitially.

interstitial in Medicine

interstitial

[ĭn′tər-stĭsh′əl]

adj.

Relating to or situated in the small, narrow spaces between tissues or parts of an organ.