n. (pl. halves /ha:vz/) 1 either of two (esp. equal) parts into which a thing is divided. 2 colloq. half a pint, esp. of beer. 3 Sport either of two equal periods of play. 4 colloq. halfprice fare or ticket, esp. for a child. 5 colloq. = HALFHAM adj. 1 amounting to half (half the men). 2 forming a half (a half share). ado. 1 (often in comb.) to the extent of half; partly (half cooked). 2 to some extent (esp. in idiomatic phrases: half dead; am half convinced). 3 (in reckoning time) by the amount of half (an hour etc.) (half past two). .T at half cock see COCK’. by half (prec. by too + adj.) excessively (too clever by half). by halves imperfectly or incompletely (does nothing by halves). half a mind see MIND. half the time see TIME. not half 1 slang extremely, violently (he didn’t half swear). 2 not nearly (not
