quarter
gb/kwˈɔɹtɚ/ us/kwˈɔɹtɚ/
A2
English
~ 1100
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
quantity
1
One fourth of something
One part out of four equal parts.
Usage pattern:
[a quarter] of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'quarter' with 'trimester' or 'semester' when talking about school periods.
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.)
Collocations
a quarter of an hour
|a quarter of the cake
|three quarters
Themes
math
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|education
Examples
- He ate a quarter of the pizza.
- A quarter of the class was absent today.
- The project is already three quarters finished.
Learner examples
- I drank a quarter of the milk.
- She has a quarter of the money.
- We walked a quarter of a mile.
Noun
A2
entity
2
US coin worth 25 cents
A US coin with the value of 25 cents.
Common mistake:
Learners from countries without this currency may confuse it with any coin or token.
Synonyms
twenty-five-cent piece (Less commonly used, more descriptive term.)
Antonyms
penny (A coin with the smallest value in US currency.)
Collocations
spare quarter
|two quarters
|quarter coin
Themes
money
|daily life
|finance
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I found a quarter under the couch.
- This soda costs one dollar, so you need four quarters.
- Do you have a quarter for the parking meter?
Learner examples
- I have one quarter in my pocket.
- He gave me a quarter for the phone.
- She needs a quarter to buy gum.
Noun
B1
quantity
3
Three-month period in a year
A period of three months in a year.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'quarter' with 'semester' or 'trimester' when talking about school schedules.
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.)
Collocations
first quarter
|fiscal quarter
|quarter results
Themes
business
|time
|education
Examples
- Our sales increased in the last quarter.
- The company will release its first-quarter earnings next week.
- She will graduate at the end of the winter quarter.
Learner examples
- The first quarter is from January to March.
- We have exams at the end of the quarter.
- The company made more money this quarter.
Noun
B1
entity
4
Area or district in a city
An area of a city with its own special character or purpose.
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.)
Collocations
old quarter
|French Quarter
|business quarter
Themes
geography
|travel
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They stayed in the old quarter of the city.
- The French Quarter is famous for its music and food.
- The financial quarter is very busy during the day.
Learner examples
- We walked through the old quarter.
- The market is in the east quarter.
- He lives in the business quarter.
Noun
C1
entity
5
Mercy to a defeated enemy
Kindness shown to an enemy who has lost.
Common mistake:
Learners may not recognize this meaning outside historical or literary contexts.
Synonyms
mercy ('Mercy' is broader; 'quarter' is used mainly in historical or military contexts.)
Antonyms
slaughter (To kill without mercy, opposite of sparing.)
Collocations
give no quarter
|ask for quarter
Themes
conflict
|history
|core_vocabulary
|law
|relationships
Examples
- The soldiers were ordered to give no quarter.
- They showed quarter to the captured rebels.
- No quarter was given during the battle.
Learner examples
- They gave no quarter to their enemies.
- The army showed quarter after they won.
- He asked for quarter from the soldiers.
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.