half

Meaning

Noun

1. One of two usually roughly equal parts into which anything may be divided, or considered as divided.
2. One of two usually roughly equal parts into which anything may be divided, or considered as divided.
3. One of two usually roughly equal parts into which anything may be divided, or considered as divided.
4. (British) Half of a standard measure, chiefly:
5. Half of a standard measure, chiefly:
6. The fraction obtained by dividing 1 by 2.
7. Any of the three terms at Eton College, for Michaelmas, Lent, and summer.
8. (slang) A half sibling.
9. (UK, dated) A child ticket. Two and a half to Paddington.
10. abbreviated form for half marathon.
11. (abbreviation, alt-of, clipping) Clipping of half-dollar.

Adj

1. (not-comparable) Consisting of a half (½, 50%).
2. (not-comparable) Consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half; approximately a half, whether more or less; partial; imperfect.
3. (not-comparable) Having one parent (rather than two) in common.
4. (not-comparable) Related through one common grandparent or ancestor rather than two.

Adv

1. (not-comparable) In two equal parts or to an equal degree.
2. (not-comparable) In some part approximating a half.
3. (not-comparable) Partially; imperfectly.
4. (not-comparable) Practically, nearly.

Verb

To halve.

Prep

1. (Ireland, UK) Half past; a half-hour (30 minutes) after the last hour.
2. (rare) A half-hour to (preceding) the next hour.

Intj

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

Synonyms

part

middle

moiety

side

semi

halfway

division

piece

some

partially

partial

time

⌚

partly

one-half

bit

fraction

one of a pair

fifty-fifty

one side

portion

center

halftime

other side

half-and-half

contrary

five thousand

conduct

five hundred

front

gap

first half

component

midway

fifty

chip

bisection

articulated lorry

🚛

fetch

facet

centre

hind

hand

✋

imperfect

incomplete

leaf

evenness

midnight

midpoint

halved

half-year

Translations

moitié

mitad

metà

Hälfte

halb

demi

medio

mezzo

metade

helft

half

meitat

mig

μισό

Pronounced as (IPA)

/hɑːf/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: half

Inherited from Old English: healf

Cognate with Old Saxon: -

Cognate with Old Frisian: -

Cognate with Dutch: half

Cognate with Western Frisian: heal

Cognate with German: halb

Cognate with Swedish: -

Cognate with Danish: -

Cognate with Norwegian: halv

Cognate with Icelandic: hálfur

Cognate with Gothic: 𐌷𐌰𐌻𐌱𐍃

In summary

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, Swedish, Danish and Norwegian halv, Icelandic hálfur and Gothic 𐌷𐌰𐌻𐌱𐍃 (halbs). Compare halve, behalf.

Sentences

We broke it in half .

The girls have been here nearly half an hour waiting .

We were only half a mile from the destination when the engine packed in .

It was said that he could cross half of Spain without leaving his possessions .

Half the proceeds of their begging is given to Brahmans .

The municipality invests close to half a million dollars in promoting its cultural assets .