semi

[ sem-ee, sem-ahy ]
/ ˈsɛm i, ˈsɛm aɪ /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR semi ON THESAURUS.COM

noun Informal.

semitrailer(def 1).
Often semis. semifinal(def 3).

Origin of semi

by shortening

Words nearby semi

semenuria, semeru, semester, semester hour, semey, semi, semi-, semi-abstract, semi-bantu, semi-closed anesthesia, semi-independent

Definition for semi (2 of 2)

semi-

a combining form borrowed from Latin, meaning “half,” freely prefixed to English words of any origin, now sometimes with the senses “partially,” “incompletely,” “somewhat”: semiautomatic; semidetached; semimonthly; semisophisticated.

Origin of semi-

Middle English < Latin sēmi-; cognate with Old English sōm-, sām- half (modern dial. sam-), Old High German sāmi-, Sanskrit sāmi-, Greek hēmi-; cf. sesqui-

usage note for semi-

See bi-1.

Words related to semi

wagon, van, car, crate, pickup, rig, jeep, freighter, lorry, buggy, dump, wheels, carryall, apparent, apparently, fake, mock, near, nominal, partly

Example sentences from the Web for semi

British Dictionary definitions for semi (1 of 2)

semi
/ (ˈsɛmɪ) /

noun plural semis

British a semidetached house
short for semifinal
US, Canadian, Australian and NZ short for semitrailer

British Dictionary definitions for semi (2 of 2)

semi-

prefix

half semicircle Compare demi- (def. 1), hemi-
partially, partly, not completely, or almost semiprofessional; semifinal
occurring twice in a specified period of time semiannual; semiweekly

Word Origin for semi-

from Latin; compare Old English sōm-, sām- half, Greek hēmi-

Medical definitions for semi

semi-

pref.

Half:semicanal.
Partial; partially:semiconscious.
Resembling or having some of the characteristics of:semilunar.

Scientific definitions for semi

semi-

A prefix that means “half,” (as in semicircle, half a circle) or “partly, somewhat, less than fully,” (as in semiconscious, partly conscious).