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quarter

quar·ter [ kwáwrtər ]


noun  (plural quar·ters)
Definition:
 
1. one of four parts: one of four equal or approximately equal parts into which something is or may be divided

2. one-fourth: a number that is equal to one divided by four, represented by the symbol 1/4

3. 25 cents: in the United States and Canada, the sum of 25 cents

4. coin worth 25 cents: in the United States and Canada, a coin worth 25 cents or one quarter of a dollar

5. time 15 minutes before or after hour: a point in time 15 minutes before or after the hour, marked on a traditional clock face at 3 and 9

6. calendar period of three months: a three-month period regarded as one of four parts of a year, especially for accounting purposes

7. U.S. education academic term: an academic term at a college or university lasting 10 or 12 weeks

8. sports part of sports contest: in some sports, one of the four equal parts into which a game is divided

9. astronomy Moon phase: either of the two phases of the Moon in which half of its illuminated surface can be seen from the Earth

10. astronomy quarter of Moon's orbit: one-fourth of the Moon's orbital period around the Earth

11. district of town: an area in a town of a particular type or inhabited by a particular group of people
the French Quarter

12. unspecified source: an unspecified person or group of people
help from any quarter

13. compass northeast, southeast, southwest, or northwest: each of the four compass points that lie midway between north, east, south, and west

14. mercy: mercy offered to a defeated enemy

15. measurements quarter of standard unit: an amount or length equal to one quarter of a standard unit of measurement

16. agriculture measurements quarter of square mile: one quarter of a square mile of rural land

17. nautical side of rear half of vessel: either side of the rear half of a boat or ship, usually behind the rearmost mast

18. heraldry section of heraldic shield: one of the four sections into which a heraldic shield may be divided

19. part of animal or bird: one of the four parts into which the body of an animal or bird may be divided, with a leg or wing forming part of each quarter

20. part of hoof: the side of a horse's hoof



plural noun quar·ters 
Definition:
 
accommodations: living or sleeping accommodations provided for somebody such as military personnel and their families, household employees, or members of a ship's crew



adjective 
Definition:
 
being one of four: being one of four parts into which something is or may be divided



verb  (past and past participle quar·tered, present participle quar·ter·ing, 3rd person present singular quar·ters)
Definition:
 
1. transitive verb divide something into four: to divide something into four equal or approximately equal parts

2. transitive verb give somebody lodging: to assign accommodation to somebody
The soldiers were quartered in an old barn.

3. transitive verb history cut body into four: to cut a human body into four parts following an execution

4. transitive verb heraldry divide shield into four: to divide a heraldic shield into four sections

5. intransitive verb nautical come from rear part of side: to come from a direction at approximately 45 degrees to the stern of a boat or ship

6. transitive verb position something at 90 degrees: to locate or position a machine part at right angles to another

[13th century. Via French< Latin quartarius "fourth part" < Latin quartus "fourth"]

at close quarters from very near


Regional History

Quarter can be used with of, till, and to to designate fifteen minutes to the hour. Before World War II the three prepositions were characteristic of, respectively, the northern, midland, and southern dialect areas, especially in the eastern states. The pattern seems to endure, with quarter to gaining ground across the country.

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