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Half vs Haaf - What's the difference?

half | haaf |

As nouns the difference between half and haaf

is that half is one of two usually roughly equal parts into which anything may be divided, or considered as divided; — sometimes followed by of; as, a half of an apple while haaf is the open sea, especially as a place to fish.

As an adjective half

is consisting of a moiety, or half (1/2, 50%).

As an adverb half

is in two equal parts or to an equal degree; in some part approximating a half; partially; imperfectly.

As a verb half

is to halve.

As a preposition half

is a half-hour after, thirty minutes after used with the number of the hour.

half

English

Adjective

(-)
  • Consisting of a moiety, or half (1/2, 50%).
  • a half''' bushel''; ''a '''half''' hour''; ''a '''half''' dollar''; ''a '''half view
  • Consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half; approximately a half, whether more or less; partial; imperfect.
  • a half''' dream''; '''''half knowledge
  • * :
  • Assumed from thence a half consent.
  • (of a sibling) Having one parent (rather than two) in common.
  • A (half brother) or (half sister)
  • Related through one common grandparent or ancestor rather than two.
  • A (half uncle) or (half aunt) or (half cousin)
  • (UK, time) Half an hour after the time given; half past.
  • We went to bed at half ten.

    Usage notes

    * The adjective and noun are often united to form a compound.

    Synonyms

    * hemi-, semi-, demi-

    Derived terms

    * half ape * half back * half bent * half binding * half boarder * half-breadth plan * half brother * half cadence * half cap * half cock * half cocked * half hitch * half hose * half-life * Half Life * half measure * half-moon * half note * half page * half pay * half price * half round * half shift * half sister * half step * half tide * half time * half tint * half truth * half year

    Adverb

    (-)
  • In two equal parts or to an equal degree; in some part approximating a half; partially; imperfectly
  • half'''-colored''; '''''half''' done''; '''''half'''-hearted''; '''''half''' persuaded''; '''''half conscious
  • * :
  • Half' loth and ' half consenting.
  • * Nehemiah 13:24 :
  • Their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod.

    Noun

    (halves)
  • One of two usually roughly equal parts into which anything may be divided, or considered as divided; — sometimes followed by of; as, a half of an apple.
  • You don't know the half of it.
  • * (rfdate), :
  • Not half his riches known, and yet despised.
  • * (rfdate), :
  • A friendship so complete Portioned in halves between us
  • # (sports) One of the two opposite parts of the playing field of various sports, in which each starts the game.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011, date=September 16, author=Ben Dirs, title=Rugby World Cup 2011: New Zealand 83-7 Japan, work=BBC Sport citation
  • , passage=However, the hosts hit back and hit back hard, first replacement hooker Andrew Hore sliding over, then Williams careering out of his own half and leaving several defenders for dead before flipping the ball to Nonu to finish off a scintillating move.}}
  • Half of a standard measure; frequently used (British) for half a pint of beer or cider.
  • * 1968 (British), John Braine, The Crying Game , Houghton Mifflin, p. 11,
  • He came back with a pint of Guinness for me and a half of bitter for Wendy.
  • * 1974 (British), James Herriot, All Things Bright and Beautiful , St. Martin's Press, ISBN 0312020309,
  • I accepted a half of bitter from him.
  • * 2006 (British), Bill Appleton, Wide Boy , Pegasus Elliot Mackenzie, ISBN 1843862530, p. 168,
  • I went to the bar where I bought a pint and two large brandies. ... "Not brandy," she replied, "but I could use a long drink - maybe a half of lager."
  • The fraction obtained by dividing 1 by 2.
  • Three-quarters minus a quarter is a half .
  • (obsolete) part; side; behalf
  • * (rfdate), Wyclif
  • *:
  • * (rfdate), :
  • The four halves of the house

    Synonyms

    *

    Derived terms

    * better half * by halves * cry halves * go halves * half a loaf is better than none * half and half * in half * in one's half * know the half of * not half * not half bad * other half * too clever by half

    Verb

  • To halve.
  • Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • a half-hour after, thirty minutes after (used with the number of the hour)
  • half one — half past one, 1:30

    See also

    * half-

    References

    *

    haaf

    English

    Noun

    (-)
  • (Shetland Islands, Scotland) The open sea, especially as a place to fish.
  • * 1822 , Walter Scott, The Pirate'', 1826, ''Novels and Romances of the Author of Waverley , Volume 19, page 320,
  • The banks to which they repair for the haaf fishing, are often many miles distant from the station where the fish is dried; so that they are always twenty or thirty hours absent, frequently longer; and under unfavourable circumstances of wind and tide, they remain at sea, with a very small stock of provisions, and in a boat of a construction which seems extremely slender, for two or three days, and are sometimes heard of no more.
  • * 2003 , Juliet Marillier, Foxmask : Saga of the Light Isles: 2, page 28,
  • The haaf -boat was as well maintained as any vessel in the islands; her master had a reputation for thoroughness, for all he was barely twenty years of age.
  • (Shetland Islands) The practice of sea fishing for such as cod, ling and tusk.
  • * 2005 , James Coull, 7: The development of fishing communities with special reference to Scotland'', Jonathan Potts, Hance D. Smith (editors), ''Managing Britain's Marine and Coastal Environment: Towards a Sustainable Future , page 145,
  • Although men concentrated at the main haaf stations during the summer fishing season, they reverted to their homes in crofting townships for the remainder of the year.

    Derived terms

    * haaf net * haaf netting