quarter

[ˈkwɔːtə(r)]

quarter Definition

• 1. one of four equal or almost equal parts of something; 25 percent of a whole
• 2. a period of three months, especially in connection with bills, payments, and academic terms
• 3. a unit of weight equal to a quarter of a hundredweight (28 pounds or 12.7 kilograms)

Using quarter: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "quarter" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  I ate a quarter of the pizza.

• Example

  The company's profits fell by a quarter last year.

• Example

  The school year is divided into four quarters.

• Example

  The bill is due at the end of the quarter.

• Example

  The horse weighs over a quarter of a ton.

• Example

  The town is located about a quarter of a mile from here.

quarter Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for quarter

• fourth
• semester
• term
• session
• division
• section
• part
• portion
• one-fourth
• 25 percent

Antonyms for quarter

• whole
• entirety

Phrases with quarter

• quarter past

  15 minutes after the hour

  Example

  It's already a quarter past six. We should leave soon.

• quarter to

  15 minutes before the hour

  Example

  It's a quarter to nine. We still have some time before the meeting starts.

• quarter pounder

  a type of hamburger that weighs approximately a quarter of a pound (113 grams)

  Example

  I'll have a quarter pounder with cheese, please.

Origins of quarter

from Middle English 'quart', from Old French 'quarte', from Latin 'quarta pars', meaning 'fourth part'

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Summary: quarter in Brief

The term 'quarter' [ˈkwɔːtə(r)] refers to a fourth part of something, a period of three months, or a unit of weight. It can be used to describe fractions of a whole, as in 'I ate a quarter of the pizza,' or academic terms, as in 'The school year is divided into four quarters.' 'Quarter' also has temporal meanings, such as 'quarter past' and 'quarter to.'