half

noun

1. 1

   One of two usually roughly equal parts into which anything may be divided, or considered as divided.

   I ate the 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.

2. 2

   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.

   An association football match usually consists of two halves of 45 minutes each.

3. 3

   One of two usually roughly equal parts into which anything may be divided, or considered as divided. One of the two opposite parts of the playing field of various sports, in which each starts the game.

   However, the hosts hit back and hit back hard, first replacement hooker Andrew Hore sliding over, then Williams careering out of his own half and leaving several defenders for dead before flipping the ball to Nonu to finish off a scintillating move.

4. 4

   Half of a standard measure, chiefly: 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.

   He came back with a pint of Guinness for me and a half of bitter for Wendy.

   I accepted a half of bitter from him.

   I went to the bar where I bought a pint and two large brandies. ... "Not brandy," she replied, "but I could use a long drink - maybe a half of lager."

5. 5

   Half of a standard measure, chiefly: A barrel measure of 27 gallons (half a hogshead).

   Barrels came in firkins, nine gallons; kilderkins, eighteen gallons; halves, twenty-seven gallons; barrels, thirty-six gallons and hogsheads, fifty-four.

6. 6

   The fraction obtained by dividing 1 by 2.

   Three-quarters minus a quarter is a half.

7. 7

   Any of the three terms at Eton College, for Michaelmas, Lent, and summer.

8. 8

   slangA half sibling.

   So for Richard and Barbara, Jeff and Kari, the impossibly varied collection of steps and halves that is another legacy of my father.

9. 9

   datedA child ticket. Two and a half to Paddington.

10. 10

    abbreviated form for half marathon.

11. 11

    Variant of half-dollarClipping of half-dollar.

    Tonight, we're offering the last of the Walking Liberty Halves for awhile:^([sic])

adjective

1. 1

   Consisting of a half (½, 50%).

   a half kilo

   a half hour

   a half dollar

   China's population density used to be half that of Britain.

2. 2

   Consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half; approximately a half, whether more or less; partial; imperfect.

   a half truth

   Assumed from thence a half-consent.

3. 3

   Having one parent (rather than two) in common.

   a half brother or half sister

4. 4

   Related through one common grandparent or ancestor rather than two.

   a half uncle or half aunt or half cousin

adverb

1. 1

   In two equal parts or to an equal degree.

2. 2

   In some part approximating a half.

3. 3

   Partially; imperfectly.

   half-colored

   The task is only half done.

   I was half persuaded by your convincing argument.

   The patient was half conscious and muttering a few words.

4. 4

   Practically, nearly.

   To be a King, is halfe to bee a God.

verb

1. 1

   To halve.

preposition

1. 1

   Half past; a half-hour (30 minutes) after the last hour.

   The time is 9:30; it is half nine.

2. 2

   rareA half-hour to (preceding) the next hour.

   In some countries, "half seven" means 6:30.

interjection

1. 1

   A call reminding performers that the performance will begin in thirty minutes.

Forms

plural

halves

past tense

halved

past participle

halved

present participle

halving

third person singular

halves