halves

[ havz, hahvz ]
/ hævz, hɑvz /

noun

plural of half.

Idioms for halves

    by halves,
    1. incompletely or partially: to do things by halves.
    2. halfheartedly: better not at all than by halves.
    go halves, to share equally; divide evenly.

Words nearby halves

Definition for halves (2 of 3)

half
[ haf, hahf ]
/ hæf, hɑf /

noun, plural halves [havz, hahvz] /hævz, hɑvz/.

adjective

adverb

Origin of half

before 900; Middle English; Old English h(e)alf; cognate with German Halb, Old Norse halfr, Gothic halbs

grammar notes for half

See well1.

Definition for halves (3 of 3)

halve
[ hav, hahv ]
/ hæv, hɑv /

verb (used with object), halved, halv·ing.

to divide into two equal parts.
to share equally: to halve one's rations with a stranger.
to reduce to half.
Golf. to play (a hole, round, or match) in the same number of strokes as one's opponent.

Origin of halve

1250–1300; Middle English halven, derivative of half

OTHER WORDS FROM halve

un·halved, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH halve

halve have

Example sentences from the Web for halves

British Dictionary definitions for halves (1 of 2)

halve
/ (hɑːv) /

verb (tr)

to divide into two approximately equal parts
to share equally
to reduce by half, as by cutting
golf to take the same number of strokes on (a hole or round) as one's opponent

Word Origin for halve

Old English hielfan; related to Middle High German helben; see half

British Dictionary definitions for halves (2 of 2)

Other words from half

Related prefixes: bi-, demi-, hemi-, semi-

Word Origin for half

Old English healf; related to Old Norse halfr, Old High German halb, Dutch half

Idioms and Phrases with halves (1 of 2)

halves

see by halves; go halves. Also see under half.

Idioms and Phrases with halves (2 of 2)

half