Added 1 October 2026
half
/ˈhɑːf/ noun
In Latin: dīmidium Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about half at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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One of two usually roughly equal parts into which anything may be divided, or considered as divided.
I ate the smaller half of the apple.
-
One of two equal periods into which a game is divided.
An association football match usually consists of two halves of 45 minutes each.
- One of the two opposite parts of the playing field of various sports, in which each starts the game.
adjective
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Consisting of a half (½, 50%).
a half kilo
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Consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half; approximately a half, whether more or less; partial; imperfect.
a half truth
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Having one parent (rather than two) in common.
a half brother or half sister
adverb
- In two equal parts or to an equal degree.
- In some part approximating a half.
-
Partially; imperfectly.
half-colored
verb
- To halve.
Origin
From Middle English half, halfe from Old English healf (“half”); as a noun, 'half', 'side', 'part', from Proto-West Germanic *halb, from Proto-Germanic *halbaz. Cognates Cognate with Old Saxon, Old Frisian, and Old Dutch half, West Frisian heal, Dutch half, German halb, Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish halv, Icelandic hálfur and Gothic 𐌷𐌰𐌻𐌱𐍃 (halbs). Compare halve, behalf.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)