interstice

[Bailey]

interstice



Main Entry: in·ter·stice
Pronunciation: \in-ˈtər-stəs\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural in·ter·stic·es \-stə-ˌsēz, -stə-səz\
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin interstitium, from inter- + -stit-, -stes standing (as in superstes standing over) — more at superstition
Date: 15th century
1 a: a space that intervenes between things; especially : one between closely spaced things <interstices of a wall> b: a gap or break in something generally continuous <the interstices of society> <passages of genuine literary merit in the interstices of the ludicrous…plots — Joyce Carol Oates>
2: a short space of time between events

mark gets-stuck-interstitually Bailey

[Slava]

Dentists recommend using floss to clean the interstices between the teeth.

This is another word I've long mispronounced. I just assumed it was Inter-stice. Now I know it's in-TUR-stus.

[misterdoe]

I'm more familiar with the adjective form, interstitial, which can refer to, among other things, the full-page ads that can pop up when you click on a website link -- forcing you to click again before getting the content you were looking for.

[Slava]

That's a new one on me. I'd never heard of this as an Internet term before. Now I know what to call those dang things. I don't see all that many, but they are annoying.