From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishinterludein‧ter‧lude /ˈɪntəluːd $ -ər-/ noun [countable] 1 PERIOD OF TIMEa period of time between two events or situations, during which something different happens a brief interlude of peace before a return to the battlefield2 APPAUSEa short period of time between the parts of a play, concert etc SYN intermission3 APMAPTa short piece of music, talk etc used to fill such a period4 a short romantic or sexual meeting or relationship a romantic interlude
Examples from the Corpus
interlude• the brief interlude of peace between the world wars• The dance provided a delightful comic interlude.• Halfway through the performance there was a short musical interlude.Origin interlude (1300-1400) Medieval Latin interludium, from Latin ludus “play” 