quarter

¹quar·ter

noun \ˈkwȯ(r)-tər also ˈkȯ(r)-\

Definition of QUARTER

1

: one of four equal parts into which something is divisible : a fourth part <in the top quarter of his class>

2

: any of various units of capacity or weight equal to or derived from one fourth of some larger unit

3

: any of various units of length or area equal to one fourth of some larger unit

4

: the fourth part of a measure of time: as

a : one of a set of four 3-month divisions of a year <business was up during the third quarter>

b : a school term of about 12 weeks

c : quarter hour <a quarter after three>

5

a : a coin worth a quarter of a dollar

b : the sum of 25 cents

6

a : one limb of a quadruped with the adjacent parts; especially : one fourth part of the carcass of a slaughtered animal including a leg

b plural British : hindquarter 2

7

a : the region or direction lying under any of the four divisions of the horizon

b : one of the four parts into which the horizon is divided or the cardinal point corresponding to it

c : a compass point or direction other than the cardinal points

d (1) : an unspecified person or group <financial help from many quarters — Current Biography> (2) : a point, direction, or place not definitely identified <the view to the rear quarter — Consumer Reports>

8

a : a division or district of a town or city <he describes the immigrant quarter — Alfred Kazin>

b : the inhabitants of such a quarter

9

a : an assigned station or post

b plural : an assembly of a ship's company for ceremony, drill, or emergency

c plural : living accommodations : lodgings <show you to your quarters>

10

: merciful consideration of an opponent <a team that gave no quarter during the championship game>; specifically : the clemency of not killing a defeated enemy

11

: a fourth part of the moon's period

12

: the side of a horse's hoof between the toe and the heel — see hoof illustration

13

a : any of the four parts into which a heraldic field is divided

b : a bearing or charge occupying the first fourth part of a heraldic field

14

: the stern area of a ship's side

15

: one side of the upper of a shoe or boot from heel to vamp

16

: one of the four equal periods into which the playing time of some games is divided

Examples of QUARTER

1. Cut the pie into quarters.
2. an inch and a quarter
3. a quarter of a cup of sugar
4. He was three quarters of an hour early.

Origin of QUARTER

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin quartarius, from quartus fourth

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to QUARTER

Synonyms

nabe, neighborhood, district, section

Related Words

belt, zone; department, division, part; precinct, ward; area, backyard, locality, place, region; barrio, enclave, ghetto, hood (or 'hood)

Near Antonyms

hard-heartedness, mercilessness, pitilessness, ruthlessness, uncharitableness; reprisal, requital, retaliation, retribution, revenge, vengeance; venom, vindictiveness, virulence, vitriol; atrocity, barbarity, brutality, cruelty, sadism, savageness, savagery, truculence, viciousness, violence, wantonness; castigation, chastisement, discipline, punishment, scolding; abhorrence, abomination, detestation, execration, hate, hatred, loathing; cattiness, malevolence, malice, maliciousness, malignancy, malignity, meanness, nastiness, spite, spitefulness, spleen; animosity, antagonism, antipathy, bitterness, enmity, gall, grudge, hostility, jealousy, pique, resentment; bile, jaundice, rancor; hatefulness, invidiousness; coarseness, hardness, harshness, roughness

Other Number-Related Terms

jubilee, myriad, quarantine, score, twain

²quarter

verb

Definition of QUARTER

transitive verb

1

a : to cut or divide into four equal or nearly equal parts <quarter an apple> <condemned to be hanged, drawn, and quartered>

b archaic : divide

2

: to provide with lodging or shelter

3

: to crisscross (an area) in many directions

4

a : to arrange or bear (as different coats of arms) quarterly on one escutcheon

b : to add (a coat of arms) to others on one escutcheon

c : to divide (a shield) into distinct sections (as by stripes)

intransitive verb

1

: lodge, dwell

2

: to crisscross a district

3

: to change from one quarter to another <the moon quarters>

4

: to strike on a ship's quarter <the wind was quartering>

Examples of QUARTER

1. The hunters quartered the deer.
2. We were quartered in log cabins at the camp.

First Known Use of QUARTER

14th century

Related to QUARTER

Synonyms

accommodate, bestow, billet, bivouac, board, bunk, camp, chamber, domicile, encamp, harbor, lodge, put up, house, roof, room, shelter, take in

Related Words

ensconce, home, roost, secure, shed, stable, tent; barrack; bed (down)

Near Antonyms

eject, evict

Rhymes with QUARTER

mortar, porter, snorter, sorter, thwarter

³quarter

adjective

Definition of QUARTER

: consisting of or equal to a quarter

Examples of QUARTER

1. a quarter acre of land
2. They live less than a quarter mile from us.

First Known Use of QUARTER

14th century

quar·ter

noun \ˈkwȯ(r)t-ər\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of QUARTER

1

: one limb of a quadruped with the adjacent parts

2

: one teat together with the part of a cow's udder that it drains

3

: the side of a horse's hoof between the toe and the heel