Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

Quarter

 - 8 dictionary results
Quartet
Shop Quartet Easels, Boards & more. Free Shipping & Fast Delivery.
Quartet.BuyOnlineNow.com
Quarter
Up to 60% off products site wide. Order today for $1 shipping.
Overstock.com

quar⋅ter

  [kwawr-ter]
Use Quarter in a Sentence
–noun
1. one of the four equal or equivalent parts into which anything is or may be divided: a quarter of an apple; a quarter of a book.
2. a fourth part, esp. of one ( 1/4 ).
3. one fourth of a U.S. or Canadian dollar, equivalent to 25 cents.
4. a coin of this value.
5. one fourth of an hour: He stayed there for an hour and a quarter.
6. the moment marking this period: The clock struck the quarter.
7. one fourth of a calendar or fiscal year: The bank sends out a statement each quarter.
8. Astronomy.
a. a fourth of the moon's period or monthly revolution, being that portion of its period or orbital course between a quadrature and a syzygy.
b. either quadrature of the moon. Compare first quarter, last quarter.
9. (in schools, colleges, and universities) one of the terms or periods into which instruction is organized, generally 10 to 12 weeks in length.
10. Sports. any of the four periods that make up certain games, as football and basketball. Compare half (def. 3).
11. one fourth of a pound.
12. one fourth of a mile; two furlongs.
13. one fourth of a yard; 9 inches.
14. a unit of weight: one fourth of a hundredweight. In the U.S. this equals 25 lbs. and in Britain 28 lbs.
15. British. a measure of capacity for grain, etc., equal to 8 bushels, or, locally, to approximately this.
16. the region of any of the four principal points of the compass or divisions of the horizon.
17. such a point or division.
18. any point or direction of the compass: The wind is blowing in that quarter.
19. a region, district, or place.
20. a particular district of a city or town, esp. one generally occupied by a particular group of people: the Turkish quarter; an artists' quarter.
21. Usually, quarters.
a. housing accommodations, as a place of residence; lodgings.
b. Military. the buildings, houses, barracks, or rooms occupied by military personnel or their families.
22. Often, quarters. an unspecified part or member of a community, government, etc., that serves as a source of information or authority: He received secret information from a high quarter.
23. mercy or indulgence, esp. as shown in sparing the life and accepting the surrender of a vanquished enemy: to give quarter; to ask for quarter.
24. one of the four parts, each including a leg, of the body or carcass of a quadruped.
25. Veterinary Medicine. the part of a horse's hoof between heel and toe.
26. Shoemaking. the part of a boot or shoe on each side of the foot, from the middle of the back to the vamp.
27. Nautical.
a. the after part of a ship's side, usually from about the aftermost mast to the stern.
b. the general horizontal direction 45° from the stern of a ship on either side: Another boat is coming near on the port quarter.
c. one of the stations to which crew members are called for battle, emergencies, or drills.
d. the part of a yard between the slings and the yardarm.
e. quarter point.
28. Heraldry.
a. any of the four equal areas into which an escutcheon may be divided by a vertical and a horizontal line passing through the center.
b. any of the variously numbered areas into which an escutcheon may be divided for the marshaling of different arms.
c. any of the arms marshaled on an escutcheon.
d. a charge occupying one quarter of an escutcheon, esp. that in dexter chief. Compare canton (def. 3).
29. each half of a cask, consisting of the portion from the bilge to the top chime and the portion from the bilge to the bottom chime.
–verb (used with object)
30. to divide into four equal or equivalent parts.
31. to divide into parts fewer or more than four: Quarter the pie into six pieces.
32. to cut the body of (a person) into quarters, esp. in executing for treason or the like.
33. Machinery. to make holes in, fix, etc., a quarter of a circle apart.
34. to furnish with lodging in a particular place.
35. to impose (soldiers) on persons, towns, etc., to be lodged and fed: He quartered his men with the farmer.
36. to assign to a particular place for service, action, etc., as on a battleship.
37. to traverse (the ground) from left to right and right to left while advancing, as dogs in search of game.
38. Heraldry.
a. to divide (an escutcheon) into four or more parts.
b. to place or bear quarterly (different coats of arms, etc.) on an escutcheon.
c. to display (a coat of arms) with one's own on an escutcheon.
–verb (used without object)
39. to take up, or be in quarters; lodge: to quarter in a cheap hotel.
40. to range to and fro, as dogs in search of game.
41. Nautical. to sail so as to have the wind or sea on the quarter.
–adjective
42. being one of four equal or approximately equal parts into which anything is or may be divided.
43. being equal to only about one fourth of the full measure.
Origin:
1250–1300; (n.) ME < AF; OF quartier < L quartārius, equiv. to quart(us) fourth + -ārius -ary; (v.) ME quarteren, deriv. of the n.

Related forms:
quar⋅ter⋅er, noun
Quartet
Shop Quartet Easels, Boards & more. Free Shipping & Fast Delivery.
Quartet.BuyOnlineNow.com
Quarter
Up to 60% off products site wide. Order today for $1 shipping.
Overstock.com

quarter point

 
–noun
the fourth part of the distance between any two adjacent points of the 32 marked on a compass, being 2° 48′ 45″.
Also called quarter.

Origin:
1720–30
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Quarter
quar·ter   (kwôr'tər)   
n.  

  1. One of four equal parts.

  2. A coin equal to one fourth of the dollar of the United States and Canada.

  3. One fourth of an hour; 15 minutes.

  4. Abbr. Q

    1. One fourth of a year; three months: Sales were up in the second quarter.

    2. An academic term lasting approximately three months.

    3. One fourth of the period of the moon's revolution around Earth.

    4. One of the four phases of the moon: the first quarter; the third quarter.

    5. One fourth of a hundredweight; 25 pounds.

    6. One fourth of a British hundredweight; 28 pounds.

    7. One of the four major divisions of the compass.

    8. One fourth of the distance between any two of the 32 divisions of the compass.

    9. One of the four major divisions of the horizon as determined by the four major points of the compass.

    10. A region or an area of the earth thought of as falling into such a specific division of the compass.

    11. Nautical The general direction on either side of a ship located 45° off the stern.

    12. The upper portion of the after side of a ship, usually between the aftermost mast and the stern.

    13. The part of a yard between the slings and the yardarm.

  5. Astronomy

    1. One fourth of the period of the moon's revolution around Earth.

    2. One of the four phases of the moon: the first quarter; the third quarter.

    3. One fourth of a hundredweight; 25 pounds.

    4. One fourth of a British hundredweight; 28 pounds.

    5. One of the four major divisions of the compass.

    6. One fourth of the distance between any two of the 32 divisions of the compass.

    7. One of the four major divisions of the horizon as determined by the four major points of the compass.

    8. A region or an area of the earth thought of as falling into such a specific division of the compass.

    9. Nautical The general direction on either side of a ship located 45° off the stern.

    10. The upper portion of the after side of a ship, usually between the aftermost mast and the stern.

    11. The part of a yard between the slings and the yardarm.

  6. Sports One of four equal periods of playing time into which some games, such as football and basketball, are divided.

  7. One fourth of a yard; nine inches.

  8. One fourth of a mile; two furlongs.

  9. One fourth of a pound; four ounces.

  10. One fourth of a ton; 500 pounds. Used as a measure of grain.

  11. Chiefly British A measure of grain equal to approximately eight bushels.

    1. One fourth of a hundredweight; 25 pounds.

    2. One fourth of a British hundredweight; 28 pounds.

    3. One of the four major divisions of the compass.

    4. One fourth of the distance between any two of the 32 divisions of the compass.

    5. One of the four major divisions of the horizon as determined by the four major points of the compass.

    6. A region or an area of the earth thought of as falling into such a specific division of the compass.

    7. Nautical The general direction on either side of a ship located 45° off the stern.

    8. The upper portion of the after side of a ship, usually between the aftermost mast and the stern.

    9. The part of a yard between the slings and the yardarm.

    1. One of the four major divisions of the compass.

    2. One fourth of the distance between any two of the 32 divisions of the compass.

    3. One of the four major divisions of the horizon as determined by the four major points of the compass.

    4. A region or an area of the earth thought of as falling into such a specific division of the compass.

    5. Nautical The general direction on either side of a ship located 45° off the stern.

    6. The upper portion of the after side of a ship, usually between the aftermost mast and the stern.

    7. The part of a yard between the slings and the yardarm.

  14. Nautical

    1. The upper portion of the after side of a ship, usually between the aftermost mast and the stern.

    2. The part of a yard between the slings and the yardarm.

  15. Heraldry Any of four equal divisions of a shield.

  16. One leg of an animal's carcass, usually including the adjoining parts.

  17. Either side of a horse's hoof.

  18. The part of the side of a shoe between the heel and the vamp.

  19. quarters A place of residence, especially the buildings or barracks used to house military personnel or their dependents.

  20. A proper or assigned station or place, as for officers and crew on a warship. Often used in the plural.

  21. often Quarter A specific district or section, as of a city: the French Quarter.

  22. An unspecified person or group. Often used in the plural: information from the highest quarters.

  23. Mercy or clemency, especially when displayed or given to an enemy.

adj.  

  1. Being one of four equal or equivalent parts.

  2. Being one fourth of a standard or usual value.

v.   quar·tered, quar·ter·ing, quar·ters

v.   tr.

    1. To divide into four equal or equivalent parts.

    2. To quartersaw.

    3. To mark or place (holes, for example) a fourth of a circle apart.

    4. To locate and adjust (one machine part) at right angles to its connecting part within the machine.

  2. To divide or separate into a number of parts.

  3. To dismember (a human body) into four parts.

  4. Heraldry To divide (a shield) into four equal areas with vertical and horizontal lines.

    1. To mark or place (holes, for example) a fourth of a circle apart.

    2. To locate and adjust (one machine part) at right angles to its connecting part within the machine.

  6. To furnish with housing: quartered the troops in an old factory building.

  7. To traverse (an area of ground) laterally back and forth while slowly advancing forward.

v.   intr.

  1. To take up or be assigned lodgings.

  2. To cover an area of ground by ranging over it from side to side.


[Middle English, from Old French quartier, from Latin quārtārius, from quārtus, fourth; see kwetwer- in Indo-European roots.]
Usage Note: When referring to the time of day, the article a is optional in phrases such as (a) quarter to (or of, before, or till) nine; (a) quarter after (or past) ten.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

quarter  (n.)
c.1300, "one-fourth of anything," from O.Fr. quartier (12c.), from L. quartarius "fourth part," from quartus "fourth" (see quart). Earliest sense is "parts of the body as dismembered during execution" (1297). Used of the moon from c.1400 and the hour from 1599. The coin is peculiar to U.S., first recorded 1783. Meaning "region, locality" is from c.1300. Meaning "portion of a town" (identified by the class or race of people who live there) is first attested 1526. The verb meaning "to cut in quarters" is recorded from c.1430. Quarter days (1480), when rents were paid and contracts and leases began or expired, were, in England, Lady day (March 25), Midsummer day (June 24), Michaelmas day (Sept. 29), and Christmas day (Dec. 25); in Scotland, keeping closer to the pagan Celtic calendar, they were Candlemas (Feb. 2), Whitsunday (May 15), Lammas (Aug. 1), and Martinmas (Nov. 11). Quarter horse, bred strong for racing on quarter-mile tracks, first recorded 1834; quarterback (n.) in U.S. football is from 1879; the verb is first attested 1945. Monday morning quarterback originally was pro football player slang for sportswriters, attested from 1932.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Financial Dictionary

quarter

  1. One quarter of a point. For bond quotes, a quarter represents one quarter of 1% of par, or $2.50. Thus, a bond quoted at 91 2/4 is being offered for $917.50.

  2. A 3-month period that represents 25% of a fiscal year.


Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: quar·ter
Pronunciation: 'kwo(r)t-&r
Function: noun
1 : one limb of a quadruped with the adjacent parts
2 : one teat together with the part of a cow's udder that it drains
3 : the side of a horse's hoof between the toe and the heel
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Computing Dictionary

quarter
crumb

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
Cite This Source
Idioms & Phrases

quarter

see at close quarters; draw and quarter.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see Quarter on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way