Inflected forms: pl. halves ( hvz, hävz) 1a. One of two equal parts that together constitute a whole. b. One part approximately equal to the remaining part. 2.Informal A 50-cent piece. 3.Sportsa. One of the two playing periods into which certain games are divided. b. A halfback. 4.Chiefly British A school term; a semester. 5. Half an hour: a half past one.
ADJECTIVE:
1a. Being one of two equal parts. b. Being approximately a half. 2. Partial or incomplete: gave me a half smile.
ADVERB:
1. To the extent of exactly or nearly 50 percent: The tank is half empty.2. Not completely or sufficiently; partly: only half right.
IDIOMS:
by half1. By a considerable extent. 2. By an excessive amount: too clever by half.by halves In a reluctant manner; unenthusiastically. half again asmany(or much) One-and-a-half times more; 50 percent more. in half Into halves. not half Not at all: “Fancy housing? Not half likely, ma'am” (Russell Baker).not the half of Only a fraction or a small part of.
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English, from Old English healf. See skel-1 in Appendix I.
h
f, häf
