interval

Etymology

From Middle English interval, intervalle, from Old French intervalle, entreval, from Latin intervallum (“space between, interval, distance, interval of time, pause, difference; literally, space between two palisades or walls”), from inter (“between”) + vallum (“palisade, wall”).

noun

1. A distance in space.
   [M]any attempts were made to prevent the spreading of it [the fire] by pulling down Houses, and making great Intervals, but all in vain, the Fire seizing upon the Timber and Rubbish, and so continuing it set even through those spaces […] 8 September 1666, The London Gazette
2. A period of time.
   the interval between contractions during childbirth
3. (music) The difference (a ratio or logarithmic measure) in pitch between two notes, often referring to those two pitches themselves (otherwise known as a dyad).
4. (mathematics) A connected section of the real line which may be empty or have a length of zero.
5. (chiefly Britain) An intermission.
6. (sports) half time, a scheduled intermission between the periods of play
   Spain made three substitutions at the interval, sending on former Arsenal captain Fabregas, Chelsea's Juan Mata and Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina for Xavi, David Silva and Casillas. November 12, 2011, “International friendly: England 1-0 Spain”, in BBC Sport
7. (cricket) Either of the two breaks, at lunch and tea, between the three sessions of a day's play