Reading Theme:
Half: Meaning, Examples, and Common Usage (3 meaning)
Meaning 1：one of two equal parts (half)
half
/hæf/
n., adj., adv.
One of the two equal parts that something is divided into.
one of two equal parts
➕
/wʌn əv tuː ˈiːkwəl pɑːrts/
n., adj., adv.
Refers to one of two equal portions resulting from dividing something into two.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
Old English 'healf' (half), from Proto-Germanic *halbaz (side, half).
💡 Mnemonic
Picture a pizza cut into two equal halves. 'Half' sounds like 'halve' — to divide into two.
📖 Example
I was so full that I could only eat half of the sandwich.
I was so full that I could only eat half of the sandwich.
🔗 Collocations
half of – one of the two equal parts of something
cut in half – to divide into two equal parts
half portion – a serving that is half of a full portion
🔄 Synonyms
fifty percent (n.) – exactly half, 50%
one-half (n.) – one of two equal parts
semi- (prefix) – prefix meaning half
🌱 Derivatives
halfway (adv.) – at or to half the distance
halfhearted (adj.) – without enthusiasm
half-life (n.) – time for half of a radioactive substance to decay
📖 Cultural Story
The word 'half' has ancient Germanic roots; its root *halbaz meant 'side' or 'half'. In sports, 'half-time' became popular in the 19th century. Time-telling 'half past' dates back to medieval clocks.
Meaning 2：middle point of an event (half)
half
/hæf/
n., adj., adv.
The middle point of a game, show, or other event.
middle point of an event
➕
/ˈmɪdl pɔɪnt ɒv ən ɪˈvent/
n., adj., adv.
Refers to the midpoint of a game, show, or other event, often used with 'time' as in half-time.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
Our team was losing at half-time, but we scored twice in the second half to win the game.
Our team was losing at half-time, but we scored twice in the second half to win the game.
🔗 Collocations
first half – the first of two equal periods of a game or event
second half – the second of two equal periods
half-time – the short break between the two halves of a game
🔄 Synonyms
Meaning 3：thirty minutes past the hour (half)
half
/hæf/
n., adj., adv.
Used to tell the time, meaning thirty minutes past the hour.
thirty minutes past the hour
➕
/ˈθɜːrti ˈmɪnɪts pæst ði aʊər/
n., adj., adv.
Used in time-telling to indicate 30 minutes after a given hour.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
Let's meet at half past two, right after my class finishes.
Let's meet at half past two, right after my class finishes.
🔗 Collocations
half past – thirty minutes after an hour
half an hour – a period of thirty minutes
half hour – a duration of thirty minutes
🔄 Synonyms
thirty minutes (n.) – a duration of half an hour
thirty past (phrase) – informal variation for half past
🌱 Derivatives
half-hourly (adj./adv.) – occurring every half hour
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