quarter

/'kwɔ:tə/

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The word "quarter" can have several meanings and uses in English. Let's break it down for you!

Basic Definition

1. Noun: "Quarter" refers to one of four equal parts of something. For example, if you divide an apple into four pieces, each piece is a quarter of the apple.

Usage Instructions

• You can use "quarter" when talking about parts of something, time, money, or even specific locations.

Examples

1. Fraction: "I ate a quarter of the pizza." (This means you ate one-fourth of the whole pizza.)
2. Time: "It's a quarter past three." (This means it is 3:15.)
3. Money: "I found a quarter on the ground." (This is referring to a coin worth 25 cents.)

Advanced Usage

• In business, you might hear "the last quarter," which refers to a three-month period in a financial year. For example, "Sales increased in the last quarter."

Different Meanings

1. Geographical: "Quarter" can refer to a specific area in a city, like "the Latin Quarter" in Paris, which is known for its history and culture.
2. Military: "Quarter" can mean providing housing for soldiers, as in "The soldiers were quartered in the town."
3. Sports: In games like football or basketball, a "quarter" refers to one of the four divisions of the game time. For example, "The team scored in the first quarter."

Word Variants

• Quarters (noun): The plural form can refer to multiple areas or sections, or to living spaces for soldiers.
• Quartering (verb): The act of providing quarters or housing for military personnel.

Synonyms

• Fourth: As in one-fourth of something.
• District: When referring to specific areas of a city.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

• “Give no quarter”: This means to show no mercy to an opponent. For example, "In the game, they gave no quarter and played very aggressively."
• “Take a quarter of an hour”: This means to take 15 minutes for something. For instance, "It will only take a quarter of an hour to complete this task."

Conclusion

"Quarter" is a versatile word used in various contexts, including fractions, time, money, geographical areas, and sports.

Academic

Noun

1. clemency or mercy shown to a defeated opponent
   • he surrendered but asked for quarter
2. piece of leather that comprises the part of a shoe or boot covering the heel and joining the vamp
3. the rear part of a ship
4. an unspecified person
   • he dropped a word in the right quarter
5. a United States or Canadian coin worth one fourth of a dollar
   • he fed four quarters into the slot machine
6. a quarter of a hundredweight (28 pounds)
7. a quarter of a hundredweight (25 pounds)
8. one of the four major division of the compass
   • the wind is coming from that quarter
9. a fourth part of a year; three months
   • unemployment fell during the last quarter
10. one of four periods into which the school year is divided
    • the fall quarter ends at Christmas
11. a unit of time equal to 15 minutes or a quarter of an hour
    • it's a quarter til 4
    • a quarter after 4 o'clock
12. (football, professional basketball) one of four divisions into which some games are divided
    • both teams scored in the first quarter
13. a district of a city having some distinguishing character
    • the Latin Quarter
14. one of four equal parts
    • a quarter of a pound

Verb

1. divide by four; divide into quarters
2. divide into quarters
   • quarter an apple
3. pull (a person) apart with four horses tied to his extremities, so as to execute him
   • in the old days, people were drawn and quartered for certain crimes
4. provide housing for (military personnel)

Synonyms

• stern
• after part
• poop
• tail
• one-fourth
• fourth
• one-quarter
• fourth part
• twenty-five percent
• quartern
• draw
• draw and quarter
• billet
• canton