halves

[ havz, hahvz ]

/ hævz, hɑvz /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR halves ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

plural of half.

Idioms for halves

by halves,

incompletely or partially: to do things by halves.
halfheartedly: better not at all than by halves.

go halves, to share equally; divide evenly.

Words nearby halves

halton hills, halutz, halvah, halve, halvers, halves, halyard, halysites, halévy, ham, ham up

Definition for halves (2 of 3)

half

[ haf, hahf ]

/ hæf, hɑf /

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

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.

a quantity or amount equal to such a part (½).

Sports. either of two equal periods of play, usually with an intermission or rest period separating them. Compare quarter(def 10).

one of two; a part of a pair.

Informal.

half dollar.
the sum of 50 cents: Four dimes and two nickels make a half.

Baseball. either of the two units of play into which an inning is divided, the visiting team batting in the first unit and the home team batting in the second.

Football. a halfback.

British Informal.

a half-crown coin.
the sum of a half crown; two shillings, sixpence.
a half pint: He ordered a half of ale.

adjective

being one of two equal or approximately equal parts of a divisible whole: a half quart.

being half or about half of anything in degree, amount, length, etc.: at half speed; half sleeve.

partial or incomplete: half measures.

adverb

in or to the extent or measure of half.

in part; partly; incompletely: half understood.

to some extent; almost: half recovered.

Origin of half

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

SYNONYMS FOR half

13 barely, somewhat, partially; sort of.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR half ON THESAURUS.COM

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

It turns out that a nail clipper, divided into two halves and hooked up directly into a power socket will boil water.

Tales of a Jailhouse Gourmet: How I learned to Cook in Prison |Daniel Genis |June 21, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The halves are divided on whether Kiev is doing a good job right now.

Ukraine’s Fighting Words |Igor Kossov |May 13, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
To give a more vivid picture of the Donetsk population as he understood it, Verin drew a circle and divided it in two halves.

Putin’s Men in Ukraine: We’re Not Giving In |Anna Nemtsova |April 18, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Transfer the halves and cylinders to a medium sauté pan with the chicken stock and butter and bring to a simmer.

Daniel Boulud Reveals His 4 Favorite Recipes From His New Cookbook |Daniel Boulud |October 15, 2013 |DAILY BEAST

Here, Lee is looking to use shorter-run fare as a bridge between the two halves of 22 or 24-episode dramas.

ABC Announces 2013-14 Schedule: 'Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' Gets Tuesday Berth, 'Super Fun Night' Gets 'Modern Family' Lead-In |Jace Lacob |May 14, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
After his death his halves were discovered intact done up with red tape!

Fifty-One Years of Victorian Life |Margaret Elizabeth Leigh Child-Villiers, Countess of Jersey
The atlas ossifies from three centres, one forming the mid-ventral portion, the others the two halves of the remainder.

The Vertebrate Skeleton |Sidney H. Reynolds
Prepare according to directions given for Apricot Salad, and stuff the halves with maraschino cherries and chopped nuts.

The Myrtle Reed Cook Book |Myrtle Reed
Cut a ripe and chilled watermelon in halves, crosswise the melon.

The Boston Cooking-School Magazine (Vol. XV, No. 2, Aug.-Sept., 1910) |Various
Wipe and split two large pork tenderloins in halves lengthwise; sprinkle with salt, pepper and dredge with flour.

Fifty-Two Sunday Dinners |Elizabeth O. Hiller

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)

half

/ (hɑːf) /

noun plural halves (hɑːvz)

either of two equal or corresponding parts that together comprise a whole
a quantity equalling such a parthalf a dozen

half a pint, esp of beer

Scot a small drink of spirits, esp whisky

sport the half of the pitch regarded as belonging to one team

golf an equal score on a hole or round with an opponent

(in various games) either of two periods of play separated by an interval (the first half and second half)

a half-price ticket on a bus, train, etc

short for half-hour

short for halfpenny (def. 1)

sport short for halfback

obsolete a half-year period

better half jocular a person's wife or husband

by half by an excessive amount or to an excessive degree he's too arrogant by half

by halves (used with a negative) without being thorough or exhaustive we don't do things by halves

go halves (often foll by on, in, etc)

to share the expenses (of something with one other person)
to share the whole amount (of something with another person)to go halves on an orange

determiner

being a half or approximately a halfhalf the kingdom
(as pronoun; functioning as sing or plural)half of them came

adjective

not perfect or complete; partial he only did a half job on it

adverb

to the amount or extent of a half

to a great amount or extent

partially; to an extent

half two informal 30 minutes after two o'clock

have half a mind to to have the intention of

not half informal

not in any wayhe's not half clever enough
British really; very; indeedhe isn't half stupid
certainly; yes, indeed

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

In addition to the idioms beginning with half

half a heart, with
half a loaf is better than none
half a mind
half of it
half the battle

also see:

at half-mast
better half
by half
glass is half full
go halfway
go off (half-cocked)
in half
not bad (half bad)
six of one, half dozen of the other
time and a half
with half an eye

Also see underhalfwayhalves.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

halves

noun

Idioms for halves

Words nearby halves

Definition for halves (2 of 3)

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

adjective

adverb

Origin of half

SYNONYMS FOR half

grammar notes for half

Definition for halves (3 of 3)

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

Origin of halve

OTHER WORDS FROM halve

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH halve

Example sentences from the Web for halves

British Dictionary definitions for halves (1 of 2)

verb (tr)

Word Origin for halve

British Dictionary definitions for halves (2 of 2)

noun plural halves (hɑːvz)

determiner

adjective

adverb

Other words from half

Word Origin for half

Idioms and Phrases with halves (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with halves (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

halves

noun

Idioms for halves

Words nearby halves

Definition for halves (2 of 3)

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

adjective

adverb

Origin of half

SYNONYMS FOR half

grammar notes for half

Definition for halves (3 of 3)

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

Origin of halve

OTHER WORDS FROM halve

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH halve

Words related to halves

Example sentences from the Web for halves

British Dictionary definitions for halves (1 of 2)

verb (tr)

Word Origin for halve

British Dictionary definitions for halves (2 of 2)

noun plural halves (hɑːvz)

determiner

adjective

adverb

Other words from half

Word Origin for half

Idioms and Phrases with halves (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with halves (2 of 2)