semester

se·mes·ter

noun \sə-ˈmes-tər\

Definition of SEMESTER

1

: either of the two usually 18-week periods of instruction into which an academic year is often divided

2

: a period of six months

— se·mes·tral \-trəl\ or se·mes·tri·al \-trē-əl\ adjective

Origin of SEMESTER

German, from Latin semestris half-yearly, from sex six + mensis month — more at six, moon

First Known Use: 1827

Other Education Terms

baccalaureate, colloquium, corequisite, dissertation, monograph, pedant, practicum, survey course, thesis

Rhymes with SEMESTER

arrester, attester, contester, detester, digester, infester, investor, Manchester, molester, northwester, requester, Rochester, sequester, southwester, sou'wester, suggester, trimester