HALF


Meaning of HALF in English

n.

Pronunciation: ' haf, ' häf

Function: noun

Inflected Form: plural halves \ ' havz, ' hävz \

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English healf; akin to Old High German halb half

Date: before 12th century

1 a : either of two equal parts that compose something also : a part approximately equal to one of these < half the distance> <the larger half of the fortune> b : half an hour ― used in designation of time

2 : one of a pair: as a : PARTNER b : SEMESTER , TERM c : either of the two equal periods that together make up the playing time of some games (as football) also : the midpoint in playing time <the score was tied at the half >

3 : HALF-DOLLAR

4 : HALFBACK

– by half : by a great deal

– by halves : in part : HALFHEARTEDLY

– half again as : one-and-a-half times as < half again as many>

– in half : into two equal or nearly equal parts

Merriam Webster Collegiate English Dictionary.      Merriam Webster - Энциклопедический словарь английского языка.