half
Pronunciation: /ˈhɑːf/
The English word “half” has 20 meanings listed here.
noun
- One of two usually roughly equal parts into which anything may be divided, or considered as divided.
- One of two equal periods into which a game is divided.
- One of the two opposite parts of the playing field of various sports, in which each starts the game.
- 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.
- A barrel measure of 27 gallons (half a hogshead).
- The fraction obtained by dividing 1 by 2.
- Any of the three terms at Eton College, for Michaelmas, Lent, and summer.
- A half sibling.
- A child ticket. Two and a half to Paddington.
- abbreviated form for half marathon.
adjective
- Consisting of a half (½, 50%).
- Consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half; approximately a half, whether more or less; partial; imperfect.
- Having one parent (rather than two) in common.
- Related through one common grandparent or ancestor rather than two.
adverb
- In two equal parts or to an equal degree.
- In some part approximating a half.
- Partially; imperfectly.
- Practically, nearly.
verb
- To halve.
preposition
Etymology
From Middle English half, halfe from Old English healf (“half”); as a noun, 'half', 'side', 'part', from Proto-West Germanic *halb, from Proto-Germanic *halbaz. Cognates Cognate with Old Saxon, Old Frisian, and Old Dutch half, West Frisian heal, Dutch half, German halb, Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish halv, Icelandic hálfur and Gothic 𐌷𐌰𐌻𐌱𐍃 (halbs). Compare halve, behalf.
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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.