half
36 ENTRIES FOUND:
- half (noun)
- half (pronoun)
- half (adjective)
- half (adverb)
- half–and–half (noun)
- half–assed (adjective)
- half–baked (adjective)
- half–breed (noun)
- half–caste (noun)
- half–cocked (adjective)
- half–dollar (noun)
- half–life (noun)
- half–light (noun)
- half–mast (noun)
- half–moon (noun)
- half–pipe (noun)
- half–staff (noun)
- half–truth (noun)
- half–wit (noun)
- half bath (noun)
- half brother (noun)
- half hour (noun)
- half note (noun)
- half price (noun)
- half shell (noun)
- half sister (noun)
- half step (noun)
- better half (noun)
- other half (noun)
- time and a half (noun)
- battle (noun)
- clever (adjective)
- dozen (noun)
- mind (noun)
- six (noun)
- time (noun)
Britannica Dictionary definition of HALF
1
:
one of two equal or nearly equal parts into which something can be divided
—
see also better half, other half
[count]
-
She broke each cookie into halves.
-
“Which half do you want?” “I'll take the smaller half.”
-
Two halves make a whole.
[noncount]
-
The price has been reduced by half. [=by 50 percent; by an amount that is equal to one half of the original]
2
a
[count]
:
either of the two equal periods of playing time in sports like football and basketball
-
The team fell behind in the first half but rallied in the second half to win the game.
b
the half
:
the time when the first half of a game ends
-
The score was tied at the half. [=at halftime]
3
[count]
British, informal
:
half a pint of a drink (such as beer)
-
“What's yours?” “A half of lager, please.”
and a half
1
— used in measurements of time, distance, weight, etc., to indicate one half of the unit of measurement
-
My daughter is two and a half (years old). [=two years and six months old]
-
The fish was a foot and a half long. [=one foot and six inches long]
-
ten and a half pounds [=ten pounds and eight ounces]
2
informal
— used to say that something is very good, large, difficult, etc.
-
That was a meal and a half! [=that was a very big meal]
-
Renovating a house is a job and a half. [=is a very difficult job]
by halves
informal
:
in an incomplete way
— used in negative statements to say that someone does things with a lot of energy and effort
-
She never does anything by halves—it's all or nothing!
go halves
also go half and half
:
to share the cost of something equally
-
We decided to go halves (with each other) on the expenses.
in half
:
into two equal parts
:
into two halves
-
She cut the apple in half.
the half of it
informal
— used to say that a situation is even worse than you think it is or than it seems to be
-
“It sounds like you've been having some problems.” “You don't know the half of it!”
-
Sales are down but that's only the half of it—the company is closing several stores.
too…by half
chiefly British, informal
— used to say that someone or something has too much of a particular quality usually in a way that is annoying
-
an arrogant politician who is too clever by half
2
half
/ˈhæf/
Brit
/ˈhɑːf/
pronoun
2
half
/ˈhæf/
Brit
/ˈhɑːf/
pronoun
Britannica Dictionary definition of HALF
:
a number or amount that is equal to one half of a total
-
“Do you want the whole piece?” “Half would be enough, please.”
-
Thirty students took the exam; half (that number) passed. [=15 students passed]
-
Half of 30 is/equals 15.
-
I seem to spend half (of) the day on the phone.
-
She gave half (of) her money to charity.
-
Half a million people live in this area.
-
Do you want half (of) my sandwich?
-
Half the time the kids are outside playing. [=the kids are often outside playing]
-
Getting to your destination is half the fun of a vacation. = Getting there is half the fun.
-
Half the problem is that we do not have enough employees to handle the increased workload.
-
I waited for half an hour. [=30 minutes]
-
Please wait (for) half a minute/second [=for a moment] while I try to connect you.
-
half a dozen [=six] eggs
-
He's always chasing women half his age. [=women who are much younger than he is]
3
half
/ˈhæf/
Brit
/ˈhɑːf/
adjective
3
half
/ˈhæf/
Brit
/ˈhɑːf/
adjective
Britannica Dictionary definition of HALF
always used before a noun
1
:
equal or nearly equal in size, value, amount, etc., to one half of something
—
see also half hour, half price
-
a half cup of coffee
-
He owns a half share in the company.
-
a half pound of cheese
-
a half million people
-
a half mile away
-
a half circle
-
a half dozen [=six] eggs
2
:
not complete
:
partial
— often used in combination
-
She looked at him with a shy half smile.
-
a shy half-smile
-
We need resolute action, not timid half-measures.
4
half
/ˈhæf/
Brit
/ˈhɑːf/
adverb
4
half
/ˈhæf/
Brit
/ˈhɑːf/
adverb
Britannica Dictionary definition of HALF
1
:
to an extent that is equal or nearly equal to half of something
-
The glass of water is half full/empty.
-
The crowd was half cheering and half jeering.
-
She's half French and half Italian. [=one of her parents is French and the other is Italian]
-
The meeting began at half past two. [=at 2:30] = (Brit) The meeting began at half two.
-
We arrived at the station at noon, and the train departed at half past. [=at 12:30]
-
The train departed at half past the hour.
2
:
not completely
:
to some degree
:
partially
-
He was only half aware of what was happening.
-
She had half persuaded me to stay.
-
The door was half open.
-
These eggs are only half cooked.
-
I was half asleep [=very tired; not completely awake] when you called.
-
She looked half dead. [=she looked very tired/ill]
half again as much/many (etc.) as
(US) or British half as much/many (etc.) again as
— used to say that the size or amount of one thing is 50 percent more than another
-
If 100 people were expected and 150 came, half again as many people came as were expected.
-
This dress costs half again as much as that one.
half as big/much/good (etc.) as
— used to say that the size, amount, or quality of one thing is half or nearly half that of another
-
The bush is half as tall as the tree. [=the tree is twice as tall as the bush]
-
This dress costs half as much as that one.
-
If 100 people were expected and 50 came, only half as many people came as were expected.
-
If he can play the guitar half as well as he can sing, he should have quite a career. [=he will have a very successful career if he can play the guitar well, even if he doesn't play as well as he sings]
-
The sequel isn't half as good as the original movie. [=the original movie was much better than the sequel]
half off
— used to say that something is being sold at half the original price
-
Peaches are half off today.
not half
1
:
not nearly
-
He's not half the fool you think he is. = He's not half so foolish as you think he is. [=he is much smarter than you think he is]
-
an aging baseball player who is not half the hitter he once was [=he is not nearly as good as a hitter as he once was]
2
British, informal
— used to emphasize a statement or description
-
She doesn't half swear! [=she swears a lot]
-
It's not half cold today! [=it is very cold today]
-
“Is it cold out?” “Not half!” [=yes, it is very cold]
not half bad
informal
:
surprisingly good
-
Her singing was not half bad. [=not bad at all]
-
The food there is not half bad. [=pretty good]
