half
gb/hˈæf/ us/hˈæf/
A1
Anglais
~ 1500
Sens
0 sens
Nom
A1
entity
1
One of two equal parts
One of two equal parts of something.
Schéma d’usage :
[something] in half
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse 'half' with 'a half'. Use 'half' without 'a' when it comes before nouns like 'hour' or 'mile' (e.g., 'half an hour', not 'a half hour' in British English).
Synonymes
portion (A general term for part of something; not necessarily equal)
Antonymes
whole (Refers to the complete thing, not divided)
Collocations
half an hour
|half a mile
|half a cup
|half a day
|half a dozen
Thèmes
math
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- She cut the sandwich in half.
- I waited for half an hour before he arrived.
- Only half of the cake was eaten.
- Half the population voted in the election.
- The glass was half full.
Exemples pédagogiques
- I ate half of the pizza.
- We walked for half an hour.
- He drank half a glass of water.
- Half the class is absent today.
- Cut the apple in half.
adjective
A2
property
2
Equal to one of two parts
Describes something that is one of two equal parts.
Schéma d’usage :
half [noun]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may forget to use 'half' before a noun directly without 'of' (e.g., 'half price', not 'half of price').
Synonymes
partial (Means incomplete or part of something, but not necessarily exactly half)
Antonymes
whole (Describes something complete, not divided)
Collocations
half price
|half full
|half empty
|half finished
Thèmes
math
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- The bottle is half full.
- We bought the tickets at half price.
- The project is only half finished.
- I was only half awake during the lecture.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The glass is half empty.
- We got it for half price.
- My work is half done.
- She was half asleep.
adverb
B1
property
3
Approximately to half extent
Partly; to about 50% of the full amount or degree.
Schéma d’usage :
only half [verb/adjective]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse the adverb form with the adjective form; as an adverb, 'half' modifies verbs or adjectives, not nouns.
Synonymes
partly (General term for not completely)
Antonymes
completely (Fully or entirely)
Collocations
half believe
|half understand
|half smile
Thèmes
daily life
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- I only half understand what you're saying.
- She half smiled at the joke.
- He was half convinced it would work.
Exemples pédagogiques
- I half understand this story.
- She half agrees with me.
- He half smiled.
Nom
A2
event
4
One period in a game or match
One of the two main time periods in some sports games.
Synonymes
period (General term for a segment of time in sports)
Antonymes
overtime (Extra time added beyond the regular halves)
Collocations
first half
|second half
Thèmes
sports
|time
Exemples
- The team scored twice in the second half.
- We were losing by halftime.
- The first half ended with a tie.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The first half is over.
- They scored in the second half.
- We played better in the second half.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
half
API
GB/hˈæf/
US/hˈæf/
Syllabes et accentuation
half (1 syllabe)
Stress on 1st syllable (half)
Formes du mot
Noun
- Base: half
- Plural: halfs, halves
Famille de mots
Expressions
better half
1/bˈɛtɚ hˈæf/
idiom
informal
Spouse or partner (humorous)
A humorous way to say your husband, wife, or partner.
Exemples
- I came here with my better half.
- My better half is out shopping.
cut in half
1/kˈʌt ˈɪn hˈæf/
fixed phrase
Divide into two equal parts
To make something into two equal parts by cutting it.
Exemples
- She cut the paper in half.
- The company cut its prices in half.
half and half
1/hˈæf ˈænd hˈæf/
fixed phrase
Mixture in equal parts
Something that has equal amounts of two different things.
Exemples
- I take my coffee with half and half.
- The paint is a half-and-half mix of blue and white.
half-hearted
1/hˈæf hˈɑɹtɪd/
fixed phrase
With little enthusiasm or effort
Doing something without much interest or effort.
Exemples
- He gave a half-hearted smile.
- Her apology seemed half-hearted.
in half
1/ˈɪn hˈæf/
fixed phrase
In two equal parts
Into two equal pieces or sections.
Exemples
- Fold the paper in half.
- The branch snapped in half.