''intermezzo'' ▫ᴱᴺ Entries

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Primary

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''intermezzo'' ▫ᴱᴺ｜Definition｜1st｜20260125123911-00-⌔

intermezzo - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

Noun

intermezzo (plural intermezzos or intermezzi)

• (music, art) A short piece of music or act in the interval of the main spectacle; a theatrical interlude.
  • ✤ Thespis’ single actor served only to create an intermezzo between choral chants.¹
  • ✤ She had ample time, too, to change for the next scene, which started with a longish intermezzo staged by a ballet company whose services Scotty had engaged […].²
• (food) A palate cleanser; a small snack with a bright light neutral taste; a fruit; a fresh sparkling wine; or a fruity or milky cocktail; that is served between courses in a meal.³⁴⁵
• (chess) A tactical move which interrupts the execution of the current plan.

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian intermezzo. Doublet of intermede and intermedium

Pronunciation

• Audio (US): 🔊
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA: /ɪntəˈmɛtsəʊ/
• (General American) IPA: /ɪntɚˈmɛtsoʊ/
• (Italian-like) IPA: /ɪntɛɹˈmɛdzoʊ/

Note: Despite being fully assimilated into English phonology by most English speakers, others maintain its Italian pronunciation.

Printed 2026-06-28.

(echo:: @ ⌗)

Footnotes

1. 1924, Herbert Weir Smyth, “I. Introduction”, in Aeschylean Tragedy, page 19: ↩

2. 1969, Vladimir Nabokov, Ada or Ardor, Penguin, published 2011, page 8: ↩

3. The Daily Meal, “A Brief History of the Palate Cleanser — and 11 Favorites!”, Caroline Lange, 21 June 2013 ↩

4. “Last Call”, Brad Thomas Parsons, 2019; →ISBN ↩

5. “Countdown to Your Perfect Wedding”, Joyce Scardina Becker, 2007; →ISBN ↩

Link to original

Secondary

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