Definition

1. Noun:
   • A period of six months; half a year: A "semester" is a period of time lasting six months.
   • One of two divisions of an academic year: In an educational context, a "semester" is one of the two main periods into which the school or university year is divided, typically lasting around 15 to 18 weeks.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The university's fall semester begins in September.
  • She completed three courses in a single semester.
  • The project must be finished by the end of the semester.

Advanced Usage

• "Semester system": An academic calendar structure that divides the year into two main periods (fall and spring semesters).

  • Most universities in the United States operate on a semester system.

• "Semester break": The vacation period between two semesters.

  • I plan to travel during the semester break.

Variants and Related Words

• Semestral (adj): Relating to or lasting for a semester.

  • The semestral exams are very challenging.

• Trimester (n): A period of three months, or one of three divisions of an academic year.

  • Some medical schools use a trimester system instead.

Synonyms

• Term: A fixed or limited period for which something lasts, especially an academic period.
• Session: A period devoted to a particular activity, such as an academic session.

Related Phrases

• "To take a semester off": To temporarily stop attending school for one semester.

  • He decided to take a semester off to gain work experience.

• "Semester abroad": A program where a student spends one semester studying in a foreign country.

  • She is applying for a semester abroad in Spain.

Noun

1. half a year; a period of 6 months
2. one of two divisions of an academic year