English
half
Etymology

From Middle English half, halfe from Old English healf; as a noun, 'half', 'side', 'part', from Proto-West Germanic *halb, from Proto-Germanic *halbaz.

Akin to osx -, ofs -, and Dutch half, Western Frisian heal, German halb, Swedish -, Danish - and Norwegian halv, Icelandic hálfur and Gothic 𐌷𐌰𐌻𐌱𐍃. Compare halve, behalf.

Pronunciation Noun

half (plural halves)

  1. One of two usually roughly equal parts into which anything may be divided, or considered as divided.
    I ate the slightly smaller half of the apple.
    You don’t know the half of it.
    Of the passengers on the plane, half were English.
    The cake was delicious: half was vanilla and half was chocolate.
    1. (sports) One of two equal periods into which a game is divided.
      Coordinate term: quarter
      An association football match usually consists of two halves of 45 minutes each.
    2. (sports) One of the two opposite parts of the playing field of various sports, in which each starts the game.
  2. Half of a standard measure, chiefly:
    1. (British) half a pint of beer or cider. (Refusing a pint) Just a half, thank you. (Offering to top up a pint glass) Do you want a half in that? (Minimizing the amount of drink taken) A swift half at the Pear Tree.
    2. (liquor trade) A barrel measure of 27 gallons (half a hogshead).
  3. (preceded by “a” or a number) The fraction obtained by dividing 1 by 2.
    Synonyms: ½
    Three-quarters minus a quarter is a half.
  4. Any of the three terms at Eton College, for Michaelmas, Lent, and summer.
  5. (slang) A half sibling.
  6. (UK, dated) A child ticket. Two and a half to Paddington.
  7. (sports) abbreviated form for half marathon.
  8. (numismatic slang) Clip of half-dollar
Translations Translations Translations Adjective

half (not comparable)

  1. Consisting of a half (½, 50%).
    Synonyms: semi-, hemi-, demi-
    a half kilo
    a half hour
    a half dollar
  2. Consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half; approximately a half, whether more or less; partial; imperfect.
    a half truth
  3. (of a sibling) Having one parent (rather than two) in common.
    A half brother or half sister
  4. (of a relative other than a sibling) Related through one common grandparent or ancestor rather than two.
    A half uncle or half aunt or half cousin
Translations Translations Adverb

half (not comparable)

  1. In two equal parts or to an equal degree.
  2. In some part approximating a half.
  3. Partially; imperfectly.
    half-colored
    half done
    half persuaded
    half conscious
    He does sometimes half wish to change his life, but it is too difficult.
  4. Practically, nearly.
Synonyms Translations Verb

half (halves, present participle halving; simple past and past participle halved)

  1. (transitive, obsolete) To halve.
    Synonyms: Thesaurus:bisect
Preposition
  1. (UK, Ireland) Half past; a half-hour (30 minutes) after the last hour.
    Synonyms: half past
    The time is 9:30; it is half nine.
  2. (rare, see usage notes) A half-hour to (preceding) the next hour.
    In some countries, "half seven" means 6:30.
Interjection
  1. (theatre) A call reminding performers that the performance will begin in thirty minutes.


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