quarter
gb/kwˈɔɹtɚ/ us/kwˈɔɹtɚ/
A2
English
~ 1100
negyed, negyeddolláros, negyedév, városrész, kegyelem
NOUN
A2
1
negyed
A2
Usage pattern:
[a quarter] of [something]
He ate a quarter of the pizza.
Megette a pizza negyedét.
A quarter of the class was absent today.
Az osztály negyede hiányzott ma.
The project is already three quarters finished.
Learner examples
I drank a quarter of the milk.
Megittam a tej negyedét.
She has a quarter of the money.
Nála van a pénz negyede.
We walked a quarter of a mile.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'quarter' with 'trimester' or 'semester' when talking about school periods.
Meaning
One fourth of something
Collocations
a quarter of an hour
|a quarter of the cake
|three quarters
Synonyms
fourth (More common in American English for fractions; 'quarter' is more frequent in some fixed expressions.)
Antonyms
whole (Refers to the complete amount rather than a fraction.)
Themes
math
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|education
Definition
One part out of four equal parts.
One of four equal parts into which something can be divided.
NOUN
A2
2
I found a quarter under the couch.
Találtam egy negyeddollárost a kanapé alatt.
This soda costs one dollar, so you need four quarters.
Ez az üdítő egy dollárba kerül, ezért négy negyeddolláros kell hozzá.
Do you have a quarter for the parking meter?
Learner examples
I have one quarter in my pocket.
Van egy negyeddolláros a zsebemben.
He gave me a quarter for the phone.
Adott nekem egy negyeddollárost telefonáláshoz.
She needs a quarter to buy gum.
Common mistake:
Learners from countries without this currency may confuse it with any coin or token.
Meaning
US coin worth 25 cents
Collocations
spare quarter
|two quarters
|quarter coin
Synonyms
twenty-five-cent piece (Less commonly used, more descriptive term.)
Antonyms
penny (A coin with the smallest value in US currency.)
Themes
money
|daily life
|finance
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A US coin with the value of 25 cents.
A US coin worth twenty-five cents, equal to one fourth of a dollar.
NOUN
B1
3
negyedév
B1
Our sales increased in the last quarter.
Az előző negyedévben nőttek az eladásaink.
The company will release its first-quarter earnings next week.
A vállalat jövő héten teszi közzé az első negyedéves eredményeit.
She will graduate at the end of the winter quarter.
Learner examples
The first quarter is from January to March.
Az első negyedév januártól márciusig tart.
We have exams at the end of the quarter.
A negyedév végén vannak vizsgáink.
The company made more money this quarter.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'quarter' with 'semester' or 'trimester' when talking about school schedules.
Meaning
Three-month period in a year
Collocations
first quarter
|fiscal quarter
|quarter results
Synonyms
term ('Term' is used more for academic calendars; 'quarter' also applies to business reporting periods.)
Antonyms
year (The entire twelve-month period instead of one part.)
Themes
business
|time
|education
Definition
A period of three months in a year.
One of four three-month periods that make up a year, often used in business or academic contexts.
NOUN
B1
4
They stayed in the old quarter of the city.
A város régi negyedében szálltak meg.
The French Quarter is famous for its music and food.
A Francia negyed híres a zenéjéről és az ételeiről.
The financial quarter is very busy during the day.
Learner examples
We walked through the old quarter.
Végigsétáltunk a régi negyeden.
The market is in the east quarter.
A piac a keleti városrészben van.
He lives in the business quarter.
Meaning
Area or district in a city
Collocations
old quarter
|French Quarter
|business quarter
Synonyms
district ('District' is more formal and administrative; 'quarter' often has historical or cultural connotations.)
Antonyms
countryside (Refers to rural areas outside cities, opposite to urban districts.)
Themes
geography
|travel
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
An area of a city with its own special character or purpose.
A part or district within a city, often with a particular character or use.
NOUN
C1
5
kegyelem
B2
The soldiers were ordered to give no quarter.
A katonák parancsot kaptak, hogy senkinek se kegyelmezzenek.
They showed quarter to the captured rebels.
Kegyelmet adtak a foglyul ejtett lázadóknak.
No quarter was given during the battle.
Learner examples
They gave no quarter to their enemies.
Nem kegyelmeztek az ellenségeiknek.
The army showed quarter after they won.
A hadsereg kegyelmet tanúsított, miután győzött.
He asked for quarter from the soldiers.
Common mistake:
Learners may not recognize this meaning outside historical or literary contexts.
Meaning
Mercy to a defeated enemy
Collocations
give no quarter
|ask for quarter
Synonyms
mercy ('Mercy' is broader; 'quarter' is used mainly in historical or military contexts.)
Antonyms
slaughter (To kill without mercy, opposite of sparing.)
Themes
conflict
|history
|core_vocabulary
|law
|relationships
Definition
Kindness shown to an enemy who has lost.
Mercy or leniency shown to an enemy or opponent who has been defeated and is at one's mercy.
Grammar
Dictionary form
quarter
IPA
GB/kwˈɔɹtɚ/
US/kwˈɔɹtɚ/
Syllables & stress
quarter (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (quarter)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: quarter
- Plural: quarter, quarters
Word family
Forms
quarters
noun
Core family
quarterly
adjective B2
Related words
quarterfinal
noun
Advanced or less common
quarterfinalist
noun
Expressions
first quarter
3/fˈɚst kwˈɔɹtɚ/
fixed phrase
First three-month period or part one-fourth into something
The first part when something is divided into four equal parts, often used for time periods like years.
Examples
- Sales were strong in the first quarter of 2023.
- The team scored early in the first quarter.
give no quarter
5/ɡˈɪv nˈoʊ kwˈɔɹtɚ/
idiom
Show no mercy to an enemy
To not show kindness or mercy to someone you are fighting against.
Examples
- The general vowed to give no quarter to the invaders.
- They gave no quarter during the competition, playing aggressively until the end.
last quarter moon
4/lˈæst kwˈɔɹtɚ mˈun/
fixed phrase
Moon phase half lit and waning three-quarters through cycle
The phase of the moon when half is lit and it is getting smaller, about three-quarters through its cycle.
Examples
- We could see the last quarter moon rising early in the morning.
- The last quarter moon will be visible this weekend.
quarter past [hour]
1/kwˈɔɹtɚ pˈæst ˈaʊɚ/
fixed phrase
Fifteen minutes after an hour
Fifteen minutes after a stated hour.
Examples
- It's a quarter past seven, so we should leave soon.
- The meeting started at a quarter past nine.
quarter to [hour]
2/kwˈɔɹtɚ tə ˈaʊɚ/
fixed phrase
Fifteen minutes before an hour
Fifteen minutes before a stated hour.
Examples
- It's a quarter to five, time to wrap up.
- He arrived at a quarter to eight.