in pronunciations below, | ̷ ̷(ˌ) ̷ ̷ . |semē or |seˌmī or |semi or ( usu not before vowels ) |semə prefix
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin; akin to Old English sam- half, Old High German sāmi-, Greek hēmi-, Sanskrit sāmi-
1.
a. : precisely half of:
(1) : forming a bisection of
semi ellipse
semi chord
semi cylinder
(2) : being a usually vertically bisected form of (a specified architectural feature)
semi arch
semi bay
semi dome
b. : half in quantity or value : half of or occurring halfway through (a specified period of time)
semi revolution
semi annual
semi centenary
semi phase
— compare bi-
2.
a. : to some extent : partly : incompletely
semi -independent
semi dry
semi plastic
semi acid
semi quantitatively
— compare demi- , hemi-
b. : having (a specified characteristic) for half the length or on one side
semi pinnate
semi adherent
3.
a. : partial : incomplete
semi positivism
semi education
semi adherent
semi -Augustinianism
semi wig
b. : having some of the characteristics of (a specified class or object)
semi luxury
semi campus
semi benzene
semi porcelain
semi citizen
c. : quasi-
semi governmental
semi judicial
semi monastic
semi ubiquitous