intermediate

¹

[in-ter-mee-dee-it]

adjective

1. being, situated, or acting between two points, stages, things, persons, etc..

   the intermediate steps in a procedure.

2. of or relating to an intermediate school.

3. Automotive.,  mid-size.

noun

1. a person who acts between others; intermediary; mediator.

2. something intermediate, as a form or class.

3. Chemistry.,  a derivative of the initial material formed before the desired product of a chemical process.

intermediate

²

[in-ter-mee-dee-eyt]

verb (used without object)

intermediated, intermediating 

1. to act as an intermediary; intervene; mediate.

intermediate

adjective

1. occurring or situated between two points, extremes, places, etc; in between

2. (of a class, course, etc) suitable for learners with some degree of skill or competence

3. physics (of a neutron) having an energy between 100 and 100 000 electronvolts

4. geology (of such igneous rocks as syenite) containing between 55 and 66 per cent silica

noun

1. something intermediate

2. a substance formed during one of the stages of a chemical process before the desired product is obtained

verb

1. (intr) to act as an intermediary or mediator

Other Word Forms

• intermediation noun
• intermediacy noun
• intermediator noun
• intermediately adverb
• intermediateness noun
• intermediatory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of intermediate¹

1615–25; < Medieval Latin intermediātus, equivalent to Latin intermedi ( us ) intermediary ( inter- inter- + medius middle, in the middle) + -ātus -ate ¹

Origin of intermediate²

1600–10; < Medieval Latin intermediātus, past participle of intermediāre. See inter-, mediate

Word History and Origins

Origin of intermediate¹

C17: from Medieval Latin intermediāre to intervene, from Latin _inter- + medius middle

Example Sentences

"We won't have a stage winner. We will give the points for the mountain classification and the intermediate sprint, but not on the finish line."

From BBC

Two seconds of that offset can be accounted for by a slower pit stop, the other five by the extra lap on worn intermediates.

From BBC

Piastri fitted the medium tyres while Norris had to do an extra lap on a drying track on highly worn intermediate tyres.

From BBC

That was because it was not a particularly good tyre, while the intermediate was.

From BBC

"Some of the strongest evidence is against tariffs on intermediate inputs like steel and aluminium, finding they are much more harmful because they increase the cost of production in the United States," she said.

From BBC

Related Words

• transitional