halve

American  

[hav, hahv] / hæv, hɑv /

verb (used with object)

halved, halving

1. to divide into two equal parts.

2. to share equally.

   to halve one's rations with a stranger.

3. to reduce to half.

4. Golf. to play (a hole, round, or match) in the same number of strokes as one's opponent.

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idioms

1. halve together, to join (two pieces of wood) by cutting from one, at the place of joining, a portion fitting to that left solid in the other.

halve British  

/ hɑːv /

verb

1. to divide into two approximately equal parts

2. to share equally

3. to reduce by half, as by cutting

4. golf to take the same number of strokes on (a hole or round) as one's opponent

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Other Word Forms

• unhalved adjective

Etymology

Origin of halve

1250–1300; Middle English halven, derivative of half

Example Sentences

Under its proposed reforms, the government said it is also planning to halve the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers in England by the time children born in this Parliament finish secondary school.

From BBC

The government says it plans to halve the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers in England by the time children born in this Parliament finish secondary school.

From BBC

Dortmund halved Leipzig's lead five minutes after half-time when a low-flying Julian Ryerson corner rebounded to home striker Romulo, who tried to avoid the ball but headed into his own net.

From Barron's

Grail, a US pharmaceutical company, halved in value after the announcement taking its share price back to levels seen at the end of the summer.

From BBC

It roughly halved the nation’s effective tariff rate and could shrink yearly tariff revenue by approximately $200 billion, he said.

From MarketWatch