Half of a standard measure, chiefly: (UK) half a pint of beer or cider. (Refusing a pint) Just a half, thank you. (Offering to top up a pint glass) Do you want a half in that? (Minimizing the amount of drink taken) A swift half at the Pear Tree. quotations Copy and paste 1/2 symbol (½). This symbol may be used to indicate the half of something. HALF definition: one of two equal or approximately equal parts of a divisible whole, as an object, or unit of measure or time; a part of a whole equal or almost equal to the remainder. See examples of half used in a sentence. Half definition: A 50-cent piece. Origin of Half From Middle English, from Old English healf (“half”); as a noun, 'half', 'side', 'part', from Proto-Germanic *halbaz; akin to Old Saxon, Old Frisian, and Dutch half, West Frisian heal, German halb, Swedish halv, Danish halv, Icelandic hálfur and Gothic (halbs). Compare halve, behalf. From Wiktionary Middle English from Old English healf. Definition of half noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. The meaning of HALF is either of two equal parts that compose something; also : a part approximately equal to one of these. How to use half in a sentence. half /hæf/ n., pl. halves (havz), pron., adj., adv. n. [countable] one of two equal or nearly equal parts: The two halves of the torn dollar bill fitted together perfectly. Sport either of two equal periods of play in a game. Compare quarter (def. 10). one of two; a part of a pair. Informal Terms the sum of 50 cents:[usually singular] It cost a dollar and a half. adj. [~ + a/the + noun] a. HALF definition: 1. either of the two equal or nearly equal parts that together make up a whole: 2. a lot: 3. Half…. Learn more. From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English half1 /hɑːf $ hæf/ S1 W1 predeterminer, pronoun, adjective [only before noun] 1 50% exactly or about 50% (½) of an amount, time, distance, number etc half of Over half of the children live in one-parent families. Only half the guests had arrived by seven o’clock. If you look at our members, at least half are women. half a mile/pound/hour. 26 meanings: 1. a. either of two equal or corresponding parts that together comprise a whole b. a quantity equalling such a. Click for more definitions. A half is one of the two equally split parts of a whole. In fractions, a half is represented as 1/2 (one-half), and as 0.5 in decimal form. Define half. half synonyms, half pronunciation, half translation, English dictionary definition of half. n. pl. halves 1. a. One of two equal parts that together constitute a whole. b. One part approximately equal to the remaining part. 2. Informal A 50-cent.