noun
semi
SEH-mee
noun
1
A semi-detached house, sharing one wall with a neighbouring house.
"They bought a three-bedroom semi on the edge of town."
2
A semifinal match in a competition.
"Both teams were nervous going into the semi."
3
A large articulated lorry made up of a tractor unit and trailer.
"A semi jackknifed on the icy motorway."
How to Use Semi
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA casual short form standing in for semi-detached house, semifinal, or semi-trailer truck, depending on context.
UK vs US
"Semi" for a house is mainly British usage; "semi" for a large truck is mainly American.
Word Forms
semis plural
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They bought a three-bedroom _____ on the edge of town.
Etymology
A shortening of the Latin prefix semi-, "half," used on its own as a noun.