Half
Half (haf) , adjective
[Anglo-Saxon healf, half, half; as a noun, half, side, part; akin to Old Saxon, OFries., & Dutch half, German halb, Swedish half, Danish halv, Icelandic hālfr, Gothic halbs. Compare Halve, Behalf.]
1.
Consisting of a moiety, or half; as, a half bushel; a half hour; a half dollar; a half view.
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.
Collocations (23)
Half ape (Zoology) , a lemur.
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 one half a vessel, divided lengthwise, showing the lines.
Half cadence (Music) , a cadence on the dominant.
Half cap , a slight salute with the cap. [Obsolete] — Shakespeare
At 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 (Music) , 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 (Architecture) , A molding of semicircular section. Having one side flat and the other rounded; -- said of a file.
Half shift (Music) , 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 (Music) , 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 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 , adverb
In an equal part or degree; in some part approximating a half; partially; imperfectly; as, half-colored, half done, half-hearted, half persuaded, half conscious.
Half loth and half consenting.
Their children spoke halfin the speech of Ashdod.
Half (haf) , noun
[Anglo-Saxon healf. See Half, a.]
1.
Part; side; behalf. [Obsolete] — Wyclif
The four halves of the house.
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.
A friendship so complete
Portioned in halves between us.
Collocations (5)
Better half , See under Better.
In half , in two; an expression sometimes used improperly instead of in halves or into halves; as, to cut in half. [Colloquial] — Dickens
In one's half or On one's half , in one's behalf; on one's part. [Obsolete]
To cry halves , to claim an equal share with another.
To go halves , to share equally between two.
Half , transitive verb
To halve. [Obs.] See Halve. — Sir H. Wotton