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

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Other Number-Related Terms

jubilee, myriad, quarantine, score, twain