intercalation

noun

in·​ter·​ca·​la·​tion

plural -s

1

a

: the insertion of one or more days at regular intervals in a calendar in order to bring it into accord with the solar year

b

: a period so inserted

2

a

: the insertion or introduction of something among other existing or original things

b

: something that is so inserted

the poet was reluctant to vary the metrical arrangement of the poem to accommodate an intercalation

—A. K. Moore

3

: the introduction or existence of a bed or layer between other layers or of a particular fossil horizon between fossil zones of different character

also : an intercalated bed or lenticular deposit

a few lenses of volcanic ash are present as intercalations

Word History

Etymology

Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin intercalation-, intercalatio, from intercalatus (past participle) + -ion-, -io -ion

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Rhymes for intercalation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration