■ noun ( plural halves )
1》 either of two equal or corresponding parts into which something is or can be divided.
↘either of two equal periods into which a sports game or performance is divided.
2》 Brit. informal ~ a pint of beer.
3》 informal a ~-price fare or ticket.
4》 Golf a score for a hole that is the same as one's opponent's.
5》 a ~back.
■ predeterminer & pronoun an amount equal to a ~.
■ adjective forming a ~.
■ adverb to the extent of ~.
↘[often in combination ] partly: ~-cooked.
Phrases
~ a chance informal the slightest opportunity.
the ~ of it [usu. with negative ] informal the most important part or aspect.
~ one ( two , etc.) informal way of saying ~ past one (two, etc.).
~ past one ( two , etc.) thirty minutes after one (two, etc.) o'clock.
~ seas over Brit. informal, dated fairly drunk.
not do things by halves do things thoroughly or extravagantly.
not ~
1》 not nearly.
2》 informal not at all.
3》 Brit. informal to an extreme degree: she didn't ~ flare up!
too —— by ~ excessively ——: too superstitious by ~.
Origin
OE ~ , healf , of Gmc origin.