View synonyms for semi

semi

[ sem-ee, sem-ahy ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Informal.

semitrailer ( def 1 ).
Often semifinal ( def 3 ).

semi-

a combining form borrowed from Latin, meaning “half,” freely prefixed to English words of any origin, now sometimes with the senses “partially,” “incompletely,” “somewhat”:
semiautomatic; semidetached; semimonthly; semisophisticated.

semi

/ ˈsɛmɪ /

noun

a semidetached house
short for semifinal
short for semitrailer

semi-

prefix

half Compare demi- hemi-
semicircle
partially, partly, not completely, or almost
semifinal
semiprofessional
occurring twice in a specified period of time
semiannual
semiweekly

semi–

A prefix that means “half,” (as in semicircle, half a circle) or “partly, somewhat, less than fully,” (as in semiconscious, partly conscious).

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Confusables Note

See bi- ¹.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of semi¹

By shortening

Origin of semi²

Middle English < Latin sēmi-; cognate with Old English sōm-, sām- half (modern dial. sam- ), Old High German sāmi-, Sanskrit sāmi-, Greek hēmi-; sesqui-

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Word History and Origins

Origin of semi¹

from Latin; compare Old English sōm-, sām- half, Greek hēmi-

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