halve

 
Pronunciation: /hɑːv/

verb

[with object]
  • 1divide into two parts of equal or roughly equal size: halve the aubergine lengthways
  • reduce or be reduced by half: [no object]: pre-tax profits nearly halved to £5 m [with object]: his pledge to halve the deficit over the next four years
  • share (something) equally with another person: she insisted on halving the bill
  • Golf use the same number of strokes as one’s opponent and thus draw (a hole or match): they halved the extra hole in bogey-5s
  • 2 (usually as noun halving) fit (crossing timbers) together by cutting out half the thickness of each: the mitre halving has a neater appearance

Origin:

Middle English: from half