Definition

1. Noun:

   • One of two equal parts of a whole: A portion representing 50% of a divisible object, quantity, or unit of time.
   • One of two periods in a game or performance: A division of a sports match or theatrical show, often separated by an interval.

2. Adjective:

   • Being one of two equal parts: Constituting or amounting to approximately 50%.
   • Partial or incomplete: Not full or whole; done to a limited extent.
   • Related through one parent only: Describing a familial relationship where two people share only one biological parent.

3. Adverb:

   • To the extent of half; partly: To a degree that is approximately 50% or not completely.
   • To a considerable degree; nearly: Used informally for emphasis, meaning 'very much' or 'almost'.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:

  • She ate half of the apple. (She consumed one of the two equal parts.)
  • The team played well in the first half. (They performed well in the first period of the game.)

• Adjective:

  • I waited for a half hour. (I waited for a period of 30 minutes.)
  • He gave a half smile. (He gave a partial or incomplete smile.)
  • She is my half sister. (We share one biological parent.)

• Adverb:

  • The glass was half full. (The glass was filled to the 50% level.)
  • He was half asleep during the lecture. (He was not fully awake; he was partly asleep.)
  • That movie wasn't half bad! (Informal: That movie was actually quite good.)

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "by halves": To do something incompletely or without full effort.
  • He never does anything by halves; he always gives 100%.
• "go halves": To share the cost of something equally with another person.
  • Let's go halves on the pizza.
• "half as much/many again": An amount greater by 50%.
  • This container holds half as much again as that one.
• "not half" (UK informal): Used for strong emphasis, meaning 'very much' or 'to a great extent'.
  • It wasn't half cold outside! (It was very cold.)

Variants and Related Words

• Halve (verb): To divide something into two equal parts.
  • Halve the recipe if you are cooking for fewer people.
• Halves (noun): Plural form of 'half'.
  • She cut the oranges into halves.

Synonyms

• Noun: Moiety, fifty percent, bisection.
• Adjective: Partial, semi-, hemi- (as in hemisphere).
• Adverb: Partly, partially, semi-.

Idioms and Common Phrases

• "Half the battle": A significant part of the effort needed to achieve something.
  • Getting organized is half the battle.
• "One's better half": A humorous or affectionate term for one's spouse or partner.
• "Too clever by half": Disapproving description of someone who is overly clever in a cunning or smug way.
• "Half past (hour)": Thirty minutes after the stated hour.
  • The meeting is at half past two. (2:30)

Adjective

1. (of siblings) related through one parent only
   • a half brother
   • half sister
2. partial
   • gave me a half smile
   • he did only a half job
3. consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
   • a half chicken
   • lasted a half hour

Adverb

1. partially or to the extent of a half
   • he was half hidden by the bushes

Noun

1. one of two divisions into which some games or performances are divided: the two divisions are separated by an interval
2. one of two equal parts of a divisible whole
   • half a loaf
   • half an hour
   • a century and one half