Definition

Noun A period of time equal to 15 minutes; one-fourth of an hour.

Usage

This noun is used to specify a duration of time. It is often used in contexts where time is being measured or divided precisely, such as scheduling, billing, or describing intervals. It is synonymous with "15 minutes."

Examples

• The meeting will start in a quarter-hour.
• The timer is set for a quarter-hour.
• He takes a quarter-hour break every afternoon.
• The recipe says to bake it for a quarter-hour.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used in its hyphenated form ("quarter-hour") or as two separate words ("quarter hour"), though the hyphenated form is more common when used as a compound noun preceding another noun (e.g., a quarter-hour session).
• It is frequently used with prepositions like , , , or to indicate timing.
  • The bus arrives in a quarter-hour.
  • She practiced for a quarter-hour.

Variants and Related Words

• Fifteen minutes: The most common and direct synonym.
• Quarter of an hour: A slightly more formal or explicit phrasing with the same meaning.

Synonyms

Fifteen minutes, 15 minutes, quarter of an hour.

Antonyms

There is no direct antonym for a specific time duration. For contrast, one could consider a longer period like a half-hour (30 minutes) or a full hour (60 minutes).

Noun

1. a quarter of an hour