intercalate Meaning, Definition & Usage

In*ter"ca*late transitive verb

Etymology

L. intercalatus, p. p. of intercalare to intercalate to intercalate; inter between + calare to call, proclaim. See Calendar.

Wordforms

imperfect & past participle Intercalated ; present participle & verbal noun Intercalating

Definitions

1. (Chron.) To insert, as a day or other portion of time, in a calendar.
2. To insert among others, as a verse in a stanza; specif. (Geol.), to introduce as a bed or stratum, between the layers of a regular series of rocks.

   Beds of fresh-water shells . . . are intercalated and interstratified with the shale. Mantell.