half

noun

one of two equal or approximately equal parts of a divisible whole, as an object, or unit of measure or time; a part of a whole equal or almost equal to the remainder.

a quantity or amount equal to such a part (½).

Sports. either of two equal periods of play, usually with an intermission or rest period separating them. Compare quarter ( def 10 ).

one of two; a part of a pair.

Informal.

half dollar.

the sum of 50 cents: Four dimes and two nickels make a half.

Baseball. either of the two units of play into which an inning is divided, the visiting team batting in the first unit and the home team batting in the second.

Football. a halfback.

British Informal.

a half-crown coin.

the sum of a half crown; two shillings, sixpence.

a half pint: He ordered a half of ale.

Relevant Questions

What Is Drug Half Life?

adjective

being one of two equal or approximately equal parts of a divisible whole: a half quart.

10.

being half or about half of anything in degree, amount, length, etc.: at half speed; half sleeve.

11.

partial or incomplete: half measures.

00:10

Half is always a great word to know.

So is gobo. Does it mean:

an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.

a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.

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adverb

12.

in or to the extent or measure of half.

13.

in part; partly; incompletely: half understood.

14.

to some extent; almost: half recovered.

Idioms

15.

by half, by very much; by far: She was too talented by half for her routine role.

16.

half again as much/many, as much as 50 percent more: This mug holds half again as much coffee as the smaller one.

17.

half in two, Southern U.S. (chiefly Gulf States) . in or into two parts; in half: Cut the cake half in two.

18.

in half, divided into halves: The vase broke in half.

19.

not half,

not at all; not really: His first attempts at painting are not half bad.

half ( def 15 ).

20.

not the half of, a significant yet relatively minor part of something that remains to be described in full: He accused them of being responsible for the error, and that's not the half of the story. Also, not half of, not half.

Origin:
before 900; Middle English; Old English h(e)alf; cognate with German Halb, Old Norse halfr, Gothic halbs

Synonyms
13. barely, somewhat, partially; sort of.

Grammar note
See well¹.

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To half

Collins

World English Dictionary

half (hɑːf)

—n (often foll by on, in, etc) , pl halves
1.	a. either of two equal or corresponding parts that together comprise a whole
	b. a quantity equalling such a part: half a dozen
2.	half a pint, esp of beer
3.	(Scot) a small drink of spirits, esp whisky
4.	sport the half of the pitch regarded as belonging to one team
5.	golf an equal score on a hole or round with an opponent
6.	(in various games) either of two periods of play separated by an interval (the first half and second half)
7.	a half-price ticket on a bus, train, etc
8.	short for half-hour
9.	short for halfpenny
10.	sport short for halfback
11.	obsolete a half-year period
12.	jocular better half a person's wife or husband
13.	by half by an excessive amount or to an excessive degree: he's too arrogant by half
14.	(used with a negative) by halves without being thorough or exhaustive: we don't do things by halves
15.	go halves
	a. to share the expenses (of something with one other person)
	b. to share the whole amount (of something with another person): to go halves on an orange

—*determiner*
16.	a. being a half or approximately a half: half the kingdom
	b. (as pronoun; functioning as sing or plural): half of them came

—*adj*
17.	not perfect or complete; partial: he only did a half job on it

—*adv*
18.	to the amount or extent of a half
19.	to a great amount or extent
20.	partially; to an extent
21.	informal half two 30 minutes after two o'clock
22.	have half a mind to to have the intention of
23.	informal not half
	a. not in any way: he's not half clever enough
	b. (Brit) really; very; indeed: he isn't half stupid
	c. certainly; yes, indeed

Related: bi-, demi-, hemi-, semi-

[Old English healf; related to Old Norse halfr, Old High German halb, Dutch half]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

half

O.E. half, halb (Mercian), healf (W. Saxon) "side, part" (original sense preserved in behalf), from P.Gmc. *khalbas "something divided" (cf. O.N. halfr, O.Fris., M.Du. half, Ger. halb, Goth. halbs "half"). Used also in O.E. phrases as in modern Ger., to mean "one half unit less than," cf. þridda

healf "two and a half," lit. "half third." The construction in two and a half, etc., is first recorded c.1200. Of time, in half past ten, etc., first attested 1750; in Scottish, the half often is prefixed to the following hour, as in Ger. (halb elf "ten thirty"). Half-and-half "ale and porter" is from 1756; half-baked in sense of "silly" is from 1855; half-breed "mixed race" is from 1760; half-blooded in this sense is from c.1600. Half-brother (early 14c.) and half-sister (c.1200) were in M.E.. Halftime in football is from 1871. half-truth is first recorded 1658; half-hearted is from 1610s. To go off half-cocked "speak or act too hastily" (1833) is in allusion to firearms.

American Heritage

Idioms & Phrases

half

In addition to the idioms beginning with half, also see at half-mast; better half; by half; glass is half full; go halfway; go off (half-cocked); in half; not bad (half bad); six of one, half dozen of the other; time and a half; with half an eye. Also see under halfway; halves.

Example sentences

The parts have intricate shapes that maintain strength while cutting the weight of the part in half.

In fact, almost half said they preferred part-time work, some because they said it fit with the demands of their family life.

Of those who know they have high blood pressure, only two-thirds get treatment, and fewer than half have it under control.

Add vermouth and mustard and deglaze by boiling, stirring and scraping up brown bits, until reduced by half.

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halfpenny minor scale sharp split absolute majority dwarf door

Slang

and a half go off half-cocked half a bubble off plumb half in the bag half up the pole half-baked

half-blind half-canned half-cocked half-crocked half-lit half-sprung

Idioms & Phrases

half

at half-mast

better half

by half

glass is half full

Matching Quote

"She tells her love while half asleep
In the dark hours,
With half-words whispered low:"

-Robert Graves