quarter

1 of 3

noun

quar·​ter ˈkwȯ(r)-tər How to pronounce quarter (audio)
also
ˈkȯ(r)- How to pronounce quarter (audio)
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: such 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
quarters plural, chiefly British : hindquarter sense 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 quartersCurrent Biography
(2)
: a point, direction, or place not definitely identified
the view to the rear quarterConsumer Reports
The oft-repeated Roman story is written in still legible characters in every quarter [=all over] of the Old World …Henry David Thoreau
8
a
: a division or district of a town or city
he describes the immigrant quarterAlfred Kazin
b
: the inhabitants of such a quarter
9
a
: an assigned station or post
b
quarters plural : an assembly of a ship's company for ceremony, drill, or emergency
c
quarters 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
: a fourth part of the moon's period
b
: a half-illuminated phase of the moon that occurs a quarter period after or before a new moon
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

quarter

2 of 3

verb

quartered; quartering; quarters

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 (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
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

quarter

3 of 3

adjective

: consisting of or equal to a quarter

Examples of quarter in a Sentence

Noun Cut the pie into quarters. an inch and a quarter a quarter of a cup of sugar He was three quarters of an hour early. Verb The hunters quartered the deer. We were quartered in log cabins at the camp. Adjective a quarter acre of land They live less than a quarter mile from us.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
As reported last month, Gap Inc. has shown further signs of turning itself around, and reported a solid bottom-line for the second quarter ended Aug. 3. Lisa Lockwood, WWD, 24 Sep. 2024 The shoe giant’s sales increased by 31% in the following quarter. Tracy Lawrence, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024
Verb
In 1305, Wallace was captured by a Scottish knight and turned over to Edward, who ordered him hanged, drawn and quartered as a traitor. Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Sep. 2024 Razin was eventually apprehended and quartered on Red Square. Liana Fix, Foreign Affairs, 27 June 2023
Adjective
The quarterly hedge fund filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission only show the quarter-end equity positions. Jesse Pound, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2024 Last week, ProPublica published a comprehensive investigation detailing Clarence Thomas’s quarter-century friendship with Harlan Crow, a billionaire mega-donor for conservative causes and Republican candidates. Matt Ford, The New Republic, 10 Apr. 2023 See all Example Sentences for quarter 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'quarter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of quarter was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near quarter

Cite this Entry

“Quarter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quarter. Accessed 4 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

quarter

1 of 3 noun
quar·​ter ˈkwȯ(r)t-ər How to pronounce quarter (audio)
1
: one of four equal parts
2
: a unit (as of weight or length) that equals one fourth of some larger unit
3
a
: any of four 3-month divisions of a year
b
: a school term of about 12 weeks
c
: a coin worth a fourth of a dollar
d
: the sum of 25 cents
e
: one fourth part of a slaughtered animal including a leg
a quarter of beef
f
: a fourth part of the moon's period
a moon in its first quarter
g
: one of the four equal parts into which the playing time of some games is divided
4
: someone or something (as a place, direction, or group) not named
complaints came from all quarters
5
a
: a particular division or district of a city
b
: an assigned station especially of a member of a crew
call to quarters
c
plural : the place where one lives : lodging
6
: mercy sense 1a
show no quarter to the enemy

quarter

2 of 3 verb
1
a
: to divide into four equal parts
b
: to separate into parts
peel and quarter an orange
2
: to provide with lodging or shelter

quarter

3 of 3 adjective
: consisting of or equal to a quarter
Etymology

Noun

Middle English quarter "a fourth part," from early French quarter (same meaning), derived from Latin quartus "a fourth"

Medical Definition

quarter

noun
quar·​ter ˈkwȯ(r)t-ər How to pronounce quarter (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on quarter

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