Quarter
ˈkwɔːrtər
Definitions
5 meaningsOne of four equal parts of something; a period of three months; a unit of currency.
ˈkwɔːrtər
A fourth part or a period of three months.
The recipe calls for a quarter cup of flour.
💡 Simply: Imagine you cut a cake into four equal pieces. One of those pieces is a quarter. It can also mean 15 minutes, like when you say 'a quarter past three' or the fourth three month period in a year.
👶 For kids: Imagine you have a pizza and cut it into four equal pieces. Each piece is called a quarter!
More Examples
The company's fiscal year ends in the fourth quarter.
He lived a quarter mile from the school.
How It's Used
"The company announced record profits for the fourth quarter."
"He finished his homework in a quarter of an hour."
"The team played well in the final quarter of the game."
A unit of currency, equal to one-fourth of the standard monetary unit.
ˈkwɔːrtər
A coin equal to one-fourth of a dollar.
I need to save up four quarters to buy a candy bar.
💡 Simply: A quarter is a coin worth 25 cents. You use it to buy things from vending machines or to do your laundry!
👶 For kids: A quarter is a coin that's worth 25 cents. It's like having 25 pennies all in one coin!
More Examples
The parking meter only accepts quarters.
He dropped a quarter down the drain.
How It's Used
"Can you give me change for a dollar? I only have quarters."
A specific region or area; housing or lodging, especially for soldiers or servants.
ˈkwɔːrtər
A region or area, often referring to housing.
They lived in the historic quarter of the city.
💡 Simply: Think of different parts of a city, like a 'business quarter' or a 'residential quarter.' It can also be used to describe where soldiers live.
👶 For kids: A quarter can also mean a part of a city or town, like a special place where people live, or where soldiers stay.
More Examples
The soldiers were assigned to their quarters.
The artists' quarter is filled with galleries and studios.
How It's Used
"He grew up in a rough quarter of the city."
"The soldiers were stationed in the barracks quarters."
To divide into four equal parts.
ˈkwɔːrtər
To divide into four parts.
Quarter the apples before baking them.
💡 Simply: To quarter something means to cut it into four equal pieces. Like when you cut an apple into quarters to share.
👶 For kids: When you quarter something, you cut it into four equal pieces.
More Examples
He quartered the pie and offered it to his friends.
The farmer quartered the melon for easier sharing.
How It's Used
"Quarter the tomatoes before adding them to the salad."
"The butcher quartered the carcass."
To provide lodging or shelter for.
ˈkwɔːrtər
To provide lodging for.
The soldiers were quartered in the local school.
💡 Simply: To quarter someone means to give them a place to stay, like in the military or in historical times where soldiers lived in people's homes.
👶 For kids: Quarters means to give a place to sleep or stay.
More Examples
The troops were quartered in the city after the battle.
The landlord was forced to quarter the soldiers after the invasion.
How It's Used
"The army was quartered in the village."
"The occupying forces were quartered in the castle."
Synonyms
Fourth
Part
Portion
Coin
Area
District
Lodging
Neighborhood
Divide
Halve
Accommodate
House
Lodge
Idioms & expressions
give quarter
To show mercy; to spare someone's life or give them refuge.
"The knight decided to give quarter to his defeated opponent."
in a quarter of a mind
Slightly or somewhat inclined to do something.
"I'm in a quarter of a mind to skip the meeting."
From Old French *quartier*, ultimately from Latin *quartus* meaning 'fourth'. It originally referred to one-fourth of something.
The word 'quarter' has been used since the 13th century to denote one-fourth of a whole.
Memory tip
Think of a pizza cut into four slices – each slice is a quarter.