between

Etymology

PIE word *dwóh₁ From Middle English betwene, from Old English betwēonum (“between, among”, dative plural, literally “by the two, near both”), from Proto-Germanic *bi- (“be-”) + *twīhnaz (“two each”), corresponding to be- + twain. Cognate with Scots between (“between”), Scots atween (“between”), Gothic 𐍄𐍅𐌴𐌹𐌷𐌽𐌰𐌹 (tweihnai, “two each”), Old English betweohs (“between”), Old English twinn (“double, twofold”). More at betwixt, twin.

prep

1. In the position or interval that separates (two things), or intermediate in quantity or degree. (See Usage notes below.)
   John stood between Amy and Mary.  Let's meet between two and three.
   I want to buy one that costs somewhere between forty and fifty dollars.
   Energy has seldom been found where we need it when we want it. Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame. 2013 July-August, Henry Petroski, “Geothermal Energy”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 4
2. Done together or reciprocally.
   conversation between friends
   She mixed furniture with the same fatal profligacy as she mixed drinks, and this outrageous contact between things which were intended by Nature to be kept poles apart gave her an inexpressible thrill. 1935, George Goodchild, chapter 1, in Death on the Centre Court
3. Shared in confidence.
   Between you and me, I think the boss is crazy.  Let's keep this between ourselves.
4. In transit from (one to the other, or connecting places).
   He's between jobs right now.  The shuttle runs between the town and the airport.
   [If] you don’t want to flip the channels between Biden and Trump, join [the] live chat, [which is covering] both town halls. 2020, Lisa Lerer, “This Is Not the Debate We Wanted”, in The New York Times
5. Combined (by effort or ownership).
   Between us all, we shall succeed.  We've only got £5 between us.
   Between the leaky taps and the peeling wallpaper, there isn't much about this house to appeal to a buyer.
6. One of (representing a choice).
   You must choose between him and me.
   Some colour-blind people can't distinguish between red and green.
7. Taking together the combined effect of.
   Between the food and the card games, this proved to be the best birthday party I have ever had.

noun

1. A kind of needle, shorter than a sharp, with a small rounded eye, used for making fine stitches on heavy fabrics.