episode

ep·i·sode

noun \ˈe-pə-ˌsōd also -ˌzōd\

Definition of EPISODE

1

: a usually brief unit of action in a dramatic or literary work: as

a : the part of an ancient Greek tragedy between two choric songs

b : a developed situation that is integral to but separable from a continuous narrative : incident

c : one of a series of loosely connected stories or scenes

d : the part of a serial presented at one performance

2

: an event that is distinctive and separate although part of a larger series

3

: a digressive subdivision in a musical composition

Examples of EPISODE

1. It was a brief romantic episode in a life devoted to work.
2. He tried to forget the whole embarrassing episode.
3. a painful episode from my childhood
4. Millions of people are expected to watch the show's final episode.

Origin of EPISODE

Greek epeisodion, from neuter of epeisodios coming in besides, from epi- + eisodios coming in, from eis into (akin to Greek en in) + hodos road, journey — more at in

First Known Use: 1678

Related to EPISODE

Synonyms

affair, circumstance, event, hap, happening, incident, occasion, occurrence, thing

Related Words

coincidence, co-occurrence, fluke, freak; landmark, milepost, milestone, page, phenomenon, turning point; adventure, experience, time; happenchance, happenstance; accident, crisis, emergency, juncture; achievement, deed, exploit, feat; news, tidings

See Synonym Discussion at occurrence

Other Performing Arts Terms

diva, dramaturgy, loge, prestidigitation, proscenium, supernumerary, zany

Rhymes with EPISODE

à la mode, antipode, carbo-load, discommode, down the road, eigenmode, electrode, frontage road, front-end load, hit the road, impastoed, incommode, internode, Kozhikode, microcode, mother lode, Nesselrode, object code, palinode, penal code, pigeon-toed, service road, sinus node, trematode, wagonload

ep·i·sode

noun \ˈep-ə-ˌsōd also -ˌzōd\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of EPISODE

: an event that is distinctive and separate although part of a larger series; especially : an occurrence of a usually recurrent pathological abnormal condition <a manic episode> <hypoglycemic episodes>

—ep·i·sod·ic \ˌep-ə-ˈsäd-ik also -ˈzäd-\ (audio pronunciation) (audio pronunciation) adjective

—ep·i·sodi·cal·ly \-i-k(ə-)lē\ (audio pronunciation) adverb