Halve
/hæv/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo reduce something by half; to divide into two equal parts.
/hæv/
To divide something into two equal parts.
I will halve the apple and share it with my friend.
💡 Simply: Imagine you have a big cookie and you want to share it with a friend. Halving means you cut the cookie into two equal pieces so that each of you gets half!
👶 For kids: To cut something in half.
More Examples
The recipe suggested halving the ingredients for a smaller portion.
The company decided to halve their budget for the next quarter.
He offered to halve the bill since they'd split the meal.
How It's Used
"She decided to halve the cake to share with her friends."
"The company decided to halve production costs."
To decrease something by 50 percent.
/hæv/
To reduce to half the amount or size.
The high interest rates have halved the number of home buyers.
💡 Simply: If you have a lot of toys and you give half of them away, you have halved your collection!
👶 For kids: To make something smaller by taking away half of it.
More Examples
The drought has halved the water supply.
The company expects to halve its debt within the next year.
The recent price drop halved the value of my investment.
How It's Used
"The pandemic halved international trade."
From Old English *healfian*, meaning 'to divide into two parts', from *healf* (half).
The word 'halve' has been used since Old English, reflecting the importance of dividing and measuring in early societies.
Memory tip
Think of splitting a pizza in half—you're halving it!