I. ˈkwȯ(r)-tər also ˈkȯ(r)- noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin quartarius, from quartus fourth
Date: 14th century
1. : one of four equal parts into which something is divisible : a fourth part
in the top quarter of his class
2. : any of various units of capacity or weight equal to or derived from one fourth of some larger unit
3. : any of various units of length or area equal to one fourth of some larger unit
4. : the fourth part of a measure of time: as
a. : one of a set of four 3-month divisions of a year
business was up during the third quarter
b. : a school term of about 12 weeks
c. : quarter hour
a quarter after three
5.
a. : a coin worth a quarter of a dollar
b. : the sum of 25 cents
6.
a. : one limb of a quadruped with the adjacent parts ; especially : one fourth part of the carcass of a slaughtered animal including a leg
b. plural , British : hindquarter 2
7.
a. : the region or direction lying under any of the four divisions of the horizon
b. : one of the four parts into which the horizon is divided or the cardinal point corresponding to it
c. : a compass point or direction other than the cardinal points
d.
(1) : an unspecified person or group
financial help from many quarter s — Current Biography
(2) : a point, direction, or place not definitely identified
the view to the rear quarter — Consumer Reports
8.
a. : a division or district of a town or city
he describes the immigrant quarter — Alfred Kazin
b. : the inhabitants of such a quarter
9.
a. : an assigned station or post
b. plural : an assembly of a ship's company for ceremony, drill, or emergency
c. plural : living accommodations : lodgings
show you to your quarter s
10. : merciful consideration of an opponent
a team that gave no quarter during the championship game
specifically : the clemency of not killing a defeated enemy
11. : a fourth part of the moon's period
12. : the side of a horse's hoof between the toe and the heel — see hoof illustration
13.
a. : any of the four parts into which a heraldic field is divided
b. : a bearing or charge occupying the first fourth part of a heraldic field
14. : the stern area of a ship's side
15. : one side of the upper of a shoe or boot from heel to vamp
16. : one of the four equal periods into which the playing time of some games is divided
II. verb
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1.
a. : to cut or divide into four equal or nearly equal parts
quarter an apple
condemned to be hanged, drawn, and quarter ed
b. archaic : divide
2. : to provide with lodging or shelter
3. : to crisscross (an area) in many directions
4.
a. : to arrange or bear (as different coats of arms) quarterly on one escutcheon
b. : to add (a coat of arms) to others on one escutcheon
c. : to divide (a shield) into distinct sections (as by stripes)
intransitive verb
1. : lodge , dwell
2. : to crisscross a district
3. : to change from one quarter to another
the moon quarter s
4. : to strike on a ship's quarter
the wind was quarter ing
III. adjective
Date: 14th century
: consisting of or equal to a quarter