Definitions for: Half


[n] one of two equal parts of a divisible whole; "half a loaf"; "half an hour"; "a century and one half"
[n] in various games or performances: either of two periods of play separated by an interval
[adv] partially or to the extent of a half; "he was half hidden by the bushes"
[adj] (of siblings) related through one parent only; "a half brother"; "half sister"



Webster (1913) Definition: Half (h[aum]f), a. [AS. healf, half, half; as a noun,
half, side, part; akin to OS., OFries., & D. half, G. halb,
Sw. half, Dan. halv, Icel. h[=a]lfr, Goth. halbs. Cf.
Halve, Behalf.]
1. Consisting of a moiety, or half; as, a half bushel; a half
hour; a half dollar; a half view.

Note: The adjective and noun are often united to form a
compound.

2. Consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half;
approximately a half, whether more or less; partial;
imperfect; as, a half dream; half knowledge.

Assumed from thence a half consent. --Tennyson.

Half ape (Zo["o]l.), a lemur.

Half back. (Football) See under 2d Back.

Half bent, the first notch, for the sear point to enter, in
the tumbler of a gunlock; the halfcock notch.

Half binding, a style of bookbinding in which only the back
and corners are in leather.

Half boarder, one who boards in part; specifically, a
scholar at a boarding school who takes dinner only.

Half-breadth plan (Shipbuilding), a horizontal plan of the
half a vessel, divided lengthwise, showing the lines.

Half cadence (Mus.), a cadence on the dominant.

Half cap, a slight salute with the cap. [Obs.] --Shak.

A half cock, the position of the cock of a gun when
retained by the first notch.



Half hitch, a sailor's knot in a rope; half of a clove
hitch.

Half hose, short stockings; socks.

Half measure, an imperfect or weak line of action.

Half note (Mus.), a minim, one half of a semibreve.

Half pay, half of the wages or salary; reduced pay; as, an
officer on half pay.

Half price, half the ordinary price; or a price much
reduced.

Half round.
(a) (Arch.) A molding of semicircular section.
(b) (Mech.) Having one side flat and the other rounded; --
said of a file.

Half shift (Mus.), a position of the hand, between the open
position and the first shift, in playing on the violin and
kindred instruments. See Shift.

Half step (Mus.), a semitone; the smallest difference of
pitch or interval, used in music.

Half tide, the time or state of the tide equally distant
from ebb and flood.

Half time, half the ordinary time for work or attendance;
as, the half-time system.

Half tint (Fine Arts), a middle or intermediate tint, as in
drawing or painting. See Demitint.

Half truth, a statement only partially true, or which gives
only a part of the truth. --Mrs. Browning.

Half year, the space of six months; one term of a school
when there are two terms in a year.


Half, adv.
In an equal part or degree; in some pa? appro?mating a half;
partially; imperfectly; as, half-colored, half done,
half-hearted, half persuaded, half conscious. ``Half loth and
half consenting.'' --Dryden.

Their children spoke halfin the speech of Ashdod.
--Neh. xiii.
24


Half, n.; pl. Halves. [AS. healf. See Half, a.]
1. Part; side; behalf. [Obs.] --Wyclif.

The four halves of the house. --Chaucer.

2. One of two equal parts into which anything may be divided,
or considered as divided; -- sometimes followed by of; as,
a half of an apple.

Not half his riches known, and yet despised.
--Milton.

A friendship so complete Portioned in halves between
us. --Tennyson.

Better half. See under Better.

In half, in two; an expression sometimes used improperly
instead of in or into halves; as, to cut in half.
[Colloq.] --Dickens.

In, or On, one's half, in one's behalf; on one's part.
[Obs.]

To cry halves, to claim an equal share with another.

To go halves, to share equally between two.


Half, v. t.
To halve. [Obs.] See Halve. --Sir H. Wotton.

Synonyms: one-half

Antonyms: whole

See Also: basketball, basketball game, common fraction, fifty percent, first half, football, football game, last half, mediety, moiety, period of play, play, playing period, second half, simple fraction

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