intersperse

C2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˌɪntɚˈspɝs/ UK /ˌɪntəˈspɜːs/ See IPA manual

Freq #305026

Meanings

1

verb
To scatter or place things at intervals among other things.

She interspersed the report with charts to make it easier to read.
2

verb
To mix one kind of thing among another at irregular points.

The garden interspersed roses among the vegetable beds.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to scatter or place things... interlard

Word family

Forms interspersedinterspersesinterspersing

Derived forms interspersalintersperser

Related forms interspersedinterspersion

Simplified etymology

Intersperse entered English in the mid-16th century from the Latin word family of spargere, “to sprinkle.” Its underlying image is of sprinkling things between or among other things.

Etymology

From Latin interspergō, interspersus.

interspergō Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# intersperse

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˌɪntɚˈspɝs/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌɪntəˈspɜːs/
**Frequency rank:** 305026

## Meanings
1. To scatter or place things at intervals among other things.
2. To mix one kind of thing among another at irregular points.

## Examples
- She interspersed the report with charts to make it easier to read.
- The garden interspersed roses among the vegetable beds.

## Derived Forms
- interspersal
- intersperser

## Related Forms
- interspersed
- interspersion

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: interspergō

## Etymology
From Latin interspergō, interspersus.

## AI Etymology
Intersperse is from Latin interspergō, interspersus. Important recorded forms include interspergō (Latin). Current senses include to scatter or place things at intervals among other things and to mix one kind of thing among another at irregular points. The wider family includes derived forms such as interspersal and intersperser and related words such as interspersed and interspersion.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

markdown