quarter
KAW-tuh
Quarter (noun) means one of four equal parts into which something is divided. Example: “Cut the apple into quarters.”
noun
1
One of four equal parts into which something is divided.
"Cut the apple into quarters."
"She's paid a quarter of her salary in tax."
"She ate a quarter of the cake before anyone else noticed."
2
A three-month period of the calendar or financial year.
"Profits rose sharply in the third quarter."
"The company reports its earnings every quarter."
"Sales were slow in the first quarter but picked up afterwards."
3
A US or Canadian coin worth 25 cents.
"He fed a quarter into the vending machine."
"Can you break a dollar into quarters?"
"I only had a quarter left, so I could not buy the gum."
4
A district or area of a town or city, often associated with a particular group.
"They wandered through the old Latin Quarter of Paris."
"The city's historic quarter is popular with tourists."
"Artists have filled the quarter near the river with small studios and cafes."
5
Fifteen minutes, as in a quarter of an hour.
"It's a quarter past three."
"We'll meet in a quarter of an hour."
"The next bus is due in a quarter of an hour."
verb
1
To divide something into four equal parts.
"Quarter the onions before adding them to the pot."
"The garden was quartered by two intersecting paths."
"She quartered the pizza so that each of the four of us got a slice."
2
To provide lodging for, especially soldiers.
"Troops were quartered in the abandoned barn."
"The regiment was quartered in the town for the winter."
"The farmer quartered the weary travellers in his spare barn for the night."
How to use quarter
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA fourth of something — of a whole, an hour, a year, a dollar, or a town — plus, as a verb, to house troops.
Common pairings
first quarter
quarter past
living quarters
quarter the population
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Word forms
- Plural
- quarters
- Third person singular
- quarters
- Past tense
- quartered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Cut the apple into _____.
Etymology
From Latin quartarius, related to quartus, "fourth" — the same root behind quart and quarterly.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for quarter
See all rhymes for quarter →Frequently asked questions
What does “quarter” mean?
The word “quarter” means one of four equal parts into which something is divided. In plain terms, a fourth of something — of a whole, an hour, a year, a dollar, or a town — plus, as a verb, to house troops.
How do you pronounce “quarter”?
“Quarter” is pronounced KAW-tuh (/ˈk(w)ɔɹ.tɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “quarter” in a sentence?
Here is “quarter” used in a sentence: “Cut the apple into quarters.”
What is another word for “quarter”?
Words with a similar meaning to “quarter” include trimester, cour and stop.
What is the opposite of “quarter”?
The opposite of “quarter” — its antonyms — is quadruple.
What part of speech is “quarter”?
Depending on how it is used, “quarter” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “quarter” come from?
The word “quarter” comes from Latin. From Latin quartarius, related to quartus, "fourth" — the same root behind quart and quarterly.
Is “quarter” a common word?
“Quarter” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is an example of a quarter?
Cutting a pizza into four equal slices gives four quarters, and each slice is a quarter of the whole. Other everyday examples include a quarter of an hour, which is fifteen minutes, a quarter of a year, meaning three months, and a US 25-cent coin.
What is the difference between a quarter and a fourth?
They describe the same fraction — one part of four equal parts, or one over four. 'Quarter' is the everyday term in both British and American English, while 'a fourth' appears mainly in American English and in maths. Both are correct and mean exactly the same amount.
How many quarters make a whole?
Four quarters make one whole. Because a quarter is defined as one of four equal parts, putting all four back together rebuilds the complete original. Four quarter-hours make an hour, four quarters make a full dollar, and four three-month quarters make a full year.
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