intermittent

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/ˌɪntərˈmɪtənt/
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Coming and going instead of continuing steadily, with a special use for water bodies that appear or flow only during part of the year.

Examples

  • The treatment helped, but the symptoms remained intermittent.
  • A loose wire caused intermittent power failures.
  • Wildflowers grew along the bed of an intermittent wash.
  • They kept in touch through intermittent messages from the road.
  • Maps mark several intermittent lakes across the basin.

Similar words

occasional
ephemeral
periodic
recurrent
seasonal
fitful
recurrent
sporadic
irregular
temporary

Meanings

Stopping and starting

adjective
everyday
neutral
Happening, working, or appearing in repeated spells rather than continuing without a break.

Examples

  • The intermittent rain made the picnic hard to plan.
  • The patient reported intermittent pain in her side.
  • A loose wire caused intermittent power failures.
  • They kept in touch through intermittent messages from the road.
  • The treatment helped, but the symptoms remained intermittent.

Similar words

Seasonally present water

adjective
geography
technical
Flowing or holding water only during part of the year, especially after rain, snowmelt, or a wet season.

Examples

  • The trail crosses an intermittent stream that runs after heavy rain.
  • Maps mark several intermittent lakes across the basin.
  • The intermittent spring disappears during long dry spells.
  • Engineers studied how the intermittent creek responds to storms.
  • Wildflowers grew along the bed of an intermittent wash.

Similar words

Etymology

From Latin intermittens, the present participle of intermittere, meaning to leave off, cease, or pause. English use is recorded from around 1600.

FAQ

What does intermittent mean?

Intermittent means stopping and starting, or happening in separate spells rather than continuously.

Is intermittent an adjective?

Yes. Intermittent is an adjective, as in intermittent rain, intermittent pain, or intermittent outages.

Is intermittent a noun?

No in ordinary modern use. The noun forms are intermittence and intermittency.

What is the adverb of intermittent?

The adverb is intermittently, as in the signal worked intermittently.

What is an intermittent stream?

An intermittent stream flows only during part of the year or after certain conditions, such as rain or snowmelt.

What is the opposite of intermittent?

Common opposites include continuous, constant, steady, uninterrupted, and perennial for water bodies.

What are synonyms of intermittent?

Common synonyms include sporadic, irregular, occasional, periodic, fitful, recurrent, and seasonal in some contexts.

Where does intermittent come from?

Intermittent comes from Latin intermittens, from a verb meaning to leave off, cease, or pause.

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