half

Pronunciation: /hɑːf/

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Definition of half

noun (plural halves /hɑːvz/)

either of two equal or corresponding parts into which something is or can be divided:two and a half years the northern half of the island divide the cake in half spending was reduced by half
either of two equal periods of time into which a sports game or a performance is divided.
British informal half a pint of beer or a similar drink:a half of bitter
informal a half-price fare or ticket, especially for a child.
Golf a score for an individual hole that is the same as one’s opponent’s: she holed from six feet for a half at the seventeenth
short for half back.

predeterminer , pronoun , & adjective

an amount equal to a half: [as predeterminer]:half an hour almost half the children turned up [as pronoun]:half of the lectures are delivered by him [as adjective]:the last half century
an amount thought of as roughly a half: [as predeterminer]:half the audience were blubbing away [as pronoun]:half of them are gatecrashers

adverb

to the extent of half:the glass was half full
[often in combination] to a certain extent; partly:the chicken is half-cooked I am half inclined to believe you

Phrases

a —— and a half: informal used to indicate that one considers a particular person or thing to be an impressive example of their kind:Aunt Edie was a woman and a half
half the battle: see battle.
half a chance: informal the slightest opportunity:given half a chance he can make anything work
half an eye: see eye.
the half of it: [usually with negative] informal the most important part or aspect of something:you don’t know the half of it
half one (or two etc.): informal way of saying half past one .
half past one (or two etc.): thirty minutes after one (two, etc.) o’clock.
half the time: see time.
not do things by halves: do things thoroughly or extravagantly.
not half
too —— by half: British used to emphasize something considered bad:the idea seems too superstitious by half

Origin:

Old English half, healf, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch half and German halb (adjectives). The earliest meaning of the Germanic base was 'side', also a noun sense in Old English

Spelling rule

Change the -f to -ves to make the plurals of nouns that end in a consonant or a single vowel plus -f or -fe: (halves).

half in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of half in the US English dictionary

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Other

half

noun (plural halves /hɑːvz/)

predeterminer , pronoun , & adjective

adverb

Phrases

a —— and a half

half the battle

half a chance

half an eye

the half of it

half one (or two etc.)

half past one (or two etc.)

half the time

not do things by halves

not half

too —— by half

Origin:

Spelling rule

half in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

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