Ĭn’ter-lūde, n.

(53), n. [From Lat. inter, between, and ludus, play, from ludere, to play, interludere, to play between; Fr. interlude, L. Lat. interludium.]

1. An entertainment exhibited on the stage between the acts of a play, or between the play and the afterpiece, to amuse the spectators while the preparations for a more elaborate performance are in progress.
2. (Mus.) A short piece of instrumental music played between the parts of a song; especially, in church music, a short passage played by the organist between the stanzas of a hymn.