half

noun (plural halves)

1》 either of two equal or corresponding parts into which something is or can be divided.

    ↘either of two equal periods into which a sports game or performance is divided.

2》 Brit. informal half a pint of beer.

3》 informal a half-price fare or ticket.

4》 Golf a score for a hole that is the same as one's opponent's.

5》 a halfback.

predeterminer & pronoun an amount equal to a half.

adjective forming a half.

adverb to the extent of half.

↘[often in combination] partly: half-cooked.

Phrases

half a chance informal the slightest opportunity.

the half of it [usu. with negative] informal the most important part or aspect.

half one (two, etc.) informal way of saying half past one (two, etc.).

half past one (two, etc.) thirty minutes after one (two, etc.) o'clock.

half seas over Brit. informal, dated fairly drunk.

not do things by halves do things thoroughly or extravagantly.

not half

1》 not nearly.

2》 informal not at all.

3》 Brit. informal to an extreme degree: she didn't half flare up!

too —— by half excessively ——: too superstitious by half.

Origin

OE half, healf, of Gmc origin.