Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- v. To distribute among other things at intervals: interspersed red and blue tiles on the walls; intersperse praise with constructive criticism.
- v. To supply or diversify with things distributed at intervals: interspersed lamp fixtures on the large ceiling; a newspaper section that was interspersed with advertisements.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- To scatter between; place here and there among other things: as, to intersperse shrubs among trees.
- To diversify by scattering or disposing various objects here and there.
Wiktionary
- v. To mix irregularly something with something else.
GNU Webster's 1913
- v. To scatter or set here and there among other things; to insert at intervals.
- v. To diversify or adorn with things set or scattered at intervals; to place something at intervals in or among.
WordNet 3.0
- v. place at intervals in or among
- v. introduce one's writing or speech with certain expressions
Etymologies
- From Latin interspergere, interspers- : inter-, inter- + spargere, to scatter.
Examples
“The drums are playing wildly while shrieks of joyous, wild delight intersperse the melodic lines that are ecstatically woven into the fabric of this Kalahari jazzfest.”
“Judge Wanger divided the case into smaller trials, which would allow him to intersperse those hearings with other ongoing cases.”
The Wall Street Journal: Criminal Case Glut Impedes Civil Suits
“I was a perpetual NPR listener in my previous life, and now I am more likely to intersperse silence and music on college radio.”
The Huffington Post: Sasha Cagen: How Long-Term Travel Turned Me Into A Minimalist
“Our art collection has some highly conceptual, cerebral pieces that are thought-provoking and intense, so I like to intersperse those works with gorgeous images that make me smile when I look at them.”
The Huffington Post: Meredith Barnett: Fall For Art, Affordably
“I think what is most interesting about “Triptych” are the symbolic metaphors, doppelgangers and other worldly dimensions that intersperse throughout the cinematic reality we see.”
“This holiday season, intersperse these kinds of meals and the inevitable "what's for dinner?" won't send you down the fast food or takeout path.”
The Huffington Post: Monica Strawbridge: Meals for the Holiday Rush
“I intersperse this with discussion portions where everyone involved can expand on the activities or question them.”
“Today (Friday): The best chance (60-70%) for snow showers (mixed with rain D.C. and southeast?) is around midday today, but the flurries and/or moderate showers could intersperse themselves 'til afternoon.”
The Washington Post: Forecast: Some snow showers today. Flurry Sat?
“CBS, to promote 50 years of NFL games, will intersperse archived highlights in its games — putting Summerall (briefly) back on CBS.”
“Throughout The Known World, you intersperse your fictional account with historical records and data about Manchester County, Virginia.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘intersperse’.
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The weird, the wonderful and the plain hilarious
Loved for their ingenuity, an exact description, or simply for the pure joy of it.
acidulous, aprosdoketon, higgledy-piggledy, lexicographical, ninja, audacious, somnabulist, shivaree, amorphous, quidnunc, glib, melancholy and 353 more...
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