Main Entry: ep·i·sode

Pronunciation: \ˈe-pə-ˌsōd also -ˌzōd\

Function: noun

Etymology: 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

Date: 1678

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

synonyms see occurrence