half

/hæf/

/hɑf/

Other forms: halves; halfs

When something is divided into two equal sections, half is one of the two parts. You can split a brownie in half if you want to share it with your friend.

You might live half the year in Alaska and half in Florida — in this case, you spend six months, one half of a 12-month period, in each state. You can also divide food in half or save half your paycheck each week, while spending the other half. Your half brother is a sibling who shares one of your parents; you and he might have the same mother but different fathers. In Old English, half means "side" or "part."

Definitions of half

1. noun

   one of two equal parts of a divisible whole
   “half a loaf”

   “half an hour”

   “a century and one half”

   synonyms: one-half

   types:

   fifty percent

   a half expressed as a percentage

   mediety, moiety

   one of two (approximately) equal parts

   type of:

   common fraction, simple fraction

   the quotient of two integers
2. noun

   one of two divisions into which some games or performances are divided: the two divisions are separated by an interval
   types:

   first half

   the first of two halves of play

   last half, second half

   the second of two halves of play

   type of:

   division, part, section

   one of the portions into which something is regarded as divided and which together constitute a whole
3. adjective

   partial
   “gave me a half smile”

   “he did only a half job”

   synonyms:

   incomplete, uncomplete

   not complete or total; not completed
4. adjective

   consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
   “a half chicken”

   “lasted a half hour”

   synonyms:

   fractional

   constituting or comprising a part or fraction of a possible whole or entirety
5. adjective

   (of siblings) related through one parent only
   “a half brother”

   “half sister”

   antonyms:

   whole

   (of siblings) having the same parents
6. adverb

   partially or to the extent of a half
   “he was half hidden by the bushes”