half Definition
half (haf, häf)
noun pl. halves
- either of the two equal parts of something the top half of the sixth inning
- either of two approximately equal parts the larger half of a divided pie
- a half-hour half past one
- ☆ a half dollar
- ☆ Baseball either of the two parts of an inning the top half of the sixth inning
- Basketball, Football, etc. either of the two equal periods of the game, between which the players rest
- ☆ Football halfback
Etymology: ME < OE healf, part, half, akin to ON halfr, Ger halb < IE (s)kelep-, lit., divided < base *(s)kel-, to cut > scalp, skill, helm
adjective
- being either of the two equal parts
- being about a half of the amount, length, etc. a half mask covered his eyes
- incomplete; fragmentary; partial
adverb
- to an extent approximately or exactly fifty percent of the whole
- to some extent; partly to be half convinced
- to a large extent or degree; nearly: often used hyperbolically half dead with fatigue
- by any means; at all: used with not not half bad
half Idioms
by half
considerably; very much
in half
into halves
not the half of
only a small part of
half Synonyms
half
modif.
by half
in half
not the half of it
half Synonyms
half
n.
go halves<strong> or </strong>halvsies*
half Usage Examples
Preposition: of
- century: The lane was probably built to give access to Lune Mill in the first half of the 13th century, or earlier.
- season: After a dreadful run in the second half of the season there was a slight chance that we could go down again.
- 1990s: For each of these sites, rates began to decline in 1980-84 and have continued to fall into the first half of the 1990s.
- household: It claims that around half of all pensioner households will be eligible and stand to gain roughly £ 400 a year on average.
Converse of object
spend: I've got to 40, and now I'll be spending the second half of my life with wheels instead of legs.
Adjective modifier
- second: Quiet second half, broken up by a lot of Bolton changes.
- latter: But while Henry dominated the early part of our innings, the skipper came to the fore in the latter half.
- first: The lane was probably built to give access to Lune Mill in the first half of the 13th century, or earlier.
- least: Women count for a least half of the world's population.
- 2nd: The 2nd half began with Megan, Mollie and Jessica being replaced by Emma, Maisie and Sophie.
- southern: In the southern half of this Country or in pets kept in a heated environment they are a problem all year long.
Modifies a noun
- hour: They will perform a half hour show to release the great first album.
- marathon: The last time i did anything like this it was a half marathon sponsored run in Basrah!
- mile: Leeds & Liverpool - Springs Branch Description: A half mile branch at Skipton.
- dozen: It's not easy to pick just one from my half dozen or so of his books as all are superb.
- inch: If it has a half inch or so gap around in the inside, it's no big deal.
- brother: Barbara ( or Peggy as she is known ) has been trying for a long time to get any information on her half brother.
Noun used with modifier
Browse dictionary entries near half
- half-and-half ›
- half-assed ›
- half-baked ›
- half binding ›
- half blood ›
- half boot ›
- half-breed ›
- half brother ›
- half-caste ›
- half-cell ›
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