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

Lotus’s share price has almost halved since the start of March.

From The Wall Street Journal

This Nowruz should have been the equivalent of Black Friday for him, but his business was halved compared with last year, he estimated.

From Los Angeles Times

"Second, the car industry went through a major transformation. The amount of oil we use for driving 100 kilometres is halved because of the efficiency improvement in cars, the fuel efficiency."

From BBC

Job vacancies have almost halved since the post-pandemic peak while higher costs for employers and strengthened rights for new hires have made firms more reluctant to recruit.

From BBC

Ministers have described a "national emergency" and the UK government has pledged to halve violence against women and girls within a decade.

From BBC