What does "intercalate" mean?
An atom or molecule, or a substance, that enters between the layers of the crystal lattice of another substance, especially that of graphite.
Intercalate
/ɪnˈtɜː.kəl.eɪt/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An atom or molecule, or a substance, that enters between the layers of the crystal lattice of another substance, especially that of graphite.
- Grammar: intercalate is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: break in schedule, calendar, calibrate, chronicle.
- Usage evidence: '[T]is wonderful where or when we ever got anything of this which we call wisdom, poetry, virtue. We never got it on any dated calendar day. Some heavenly days must have been intercalated somewhere.
How to use "intercalate"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "intercalate" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "intercalate" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "intercalate" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "intercalate" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "intercalate" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "break in schedule" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "intercalate", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An atom or molecule, or a substance, that enters between the layers of the crystal lattice of another substance, especially that of graphite. attributive, often
"Entry of intercalate molecules from the edge of basal planes of crystallites must be kept sufficiently slow to mitigate mechanical strains..before the intercalate has spread uniformly through any layer."
- 2 A compound formed by foreign atoms or molecules entering between the layers of a crystal lattice, especially that of graphite.
Verb
- 1 To insert an extra leap day into a calendar in order to maintain synchrony with natural phenomena.
"'[T]is wonderful where or when we ever got anything of this which we call wisdom, poetry, virtue. We never got it on any dated calendar day. Some heavenly days must have been intercalated somewhere."
- 2 insert (days) in a calendar wordnet
- 3 To insert an extra month into a calendar for the same purpose, such as for the Hebrew calendar.
"The Sages once overheard three shepherds discussing what weather is characteristic of Adar, and if that weather does not occur, it is not really Adar. As a result, the Sages intercalated the year and added Adar II."
- 4 To insert a substance between two or more molecules, bases, cells, or tissues.
- 5 To insert anything somewhere (especially between other things), such as an affix into a word. (Compare interpolate.)
"... the personal pronouns which form the terminations of the verb, or by an intercalated suffix, the nature and relation of its objects and its subject , and to distinguish whether the object be animate or inanimate, ..."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"'[T]is wonderful where or when we ever got anything of this which we call wisdom, poetry, virtue. We never got it on any dated calendar day. Some heavenly days must have been intercalated somewhere."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "intercalate"?
Common synonyms include: break in schedule, calendar, calibrate, chronicle, drag in, edge in.
How do you use "intercalate" in a sentence?
'[T]is wonderful where or when we ever got anything of this which we call wisdom, poetry, virtue. We never got it on any dated calendar day. Some heavenly days must have been intercalated somewhere.
How do you pronounce "intercalate"?
Pronounced /ɪnˈtɜː.kəl.eɪt/.
Etymology
The verb is first attested in 1614, the noun in 1964; borrowed from Latin intercalātus, perfect passive participle of intercalō (“to proclaim that a day, an event, etc. has been intercalated; to insert”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (noun-forming suffix)), from inter- (“between, among”) + calō (“to call; to proclaim”).