Hiatus

Pronunciation

• IPA: /haɪˈeɪtÉ™s/
• Rhymes: -eɪtÉ™s

Origin

From Latin hiātus ("opening"), from hiō ("stand open, yawn").

Full definition of hiatus

Noun

1. A gap in a series, making it incomplete.
2. An interruption, break or pause.
3. A vacation, break from work.The band took a hiatus for three months.
4. (geology) A gap in geological strata.
5. (anatomy) An opening in an organ.Hiatus aorticus is an opening in the diaphragm through which aorta and thoracic duct pass.
6. (linguistics)
1. A syllable break between two vowels, without an intervening consonant. (Compare diphthong.)
2. The condition of having such a break.Words like reality and naïve contain vowels in hiatus.

Synonyms

• break (1)