Half — Defs

01 a. Consisting of a moiety, or half; as, a half bushel; a half hour; a half dollar; a half view.

1.
Consisting of a moiety, or half; as, a half bushel; a half hour; a half dollar; a half view.
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.

Phrases & compounds

Half ape — a lemur.

Half back — 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 — a horizontal plan of one half a vessel, divided lengthwise, showing the lines.

Half cadence — a cadence on the dominant.

Half cap — a slight salute with the cap.

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 — 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 molding of semicircular section.

Half shift — 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 — 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 — 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.

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

02 adv. In an equal part or degree; in some part approximating a half; partially; imperfectly; as, half-colored, half done, half-hearted, half pers…

1.
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.
“Their children spoke halfin the speech of Ashdod.” — Neh. xiii. 24.

03 n. Part; side; behalf.

pl. Halves ((hävz))

1.
Part; side; behalf.[Obs.]
“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.

Phrases & compounds

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.