from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Intermediate \In`ter*me"di*ate\, n.
1. A person who intermediates between others, especially in
negotiations; an intermediary; a mediator.
[PJC]
2. Something that is intermediate.
[PJC]
3. Specifically: (Chem.) A compound which is produced in the
course of a chemical synthesis, which is not itself the
final product, but is used in further reactions which
produce the final product; also called {synthetic
intermediate}, {intermediate compound} or {intermediate
product}; -- contrasted to {starting material} and {end
product} or {final product}. There may be many different
intermediates between the {starting material} and end
product in the course of a complex synthesis; as, many
industrial chemicals are produced primarily to be used as
intermediates in other syntheses.
Note: The term has the same meaning with respect to
intermediate compounds produced in a biosynthetic
pathway in living organisms.
[PJC]