halve

[hav, hahv]

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.

halve

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• unhalved adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of halve¹

1250–1300; Middle English halven, derivative of half

Word History and Origins

Origin of halve¹

Old English hielfan; related to Middle High German helben; see _half

Idioms and Phrases

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.

Example Sentences

Under these changes, practices for students will be halved, moving from four days of instruction to two days of rehearsal.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Strategy, which pioneered the business model, has seen its market cap more than halved to about $50 billion from a peak of $128 billion in July.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Generation Investment Management halved its stake in Analog Devices to 1,316,607 shares while maintaining its holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing.

Read more on Barron's

Perry said that, among other objections, Ukraine was very unlikely to cede territory it still controls, abandon key weaponry and halve the size of its armed forces.

Read more on MarketWatch

The number of dealing points in the city had halved from 160 to 80, he added.

Read more on BBC