Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
hi-fi
hi-hat cymbals
hi-lo index
hi-lo pass
hi-res
hi-tech
hiatal
hiatal hernia
hiatus
HIB vaccine
hibachi
hibakusha
hibernaculum
hibernal
hibernate
hibernating myocardium
hibiscus
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "hiatus" in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

hiatus

hi·a·tus [ hī áytəss ] (plural hi·a·tus·es or hi·a·tus)


noun 
Definition:
 
1. unexpected gap: a break in something where there should be continuity

2. anatomy opening: an opening or aperture in an organ, e.g. the opening in the diaphragm for the esophagus

3. phonetics separation between vowels: a break in pronunciation between two vowels that are next to each other in consecutive syllables without an intervening consonant, as in "reexamine"

4. printing omission: a gap where something is missing, especially in manuscripts

[Mid-16th century. < Latin, "gaping, opening" < hiare "gape" < Indo-European]
Also on Encarta
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
MSN Shopping
Upgrade your Encarta experience
Encarta RSS Feeds
© 2008 Microsoft