semester
[ si-mes-ter ]
/ sɪˈmɛs tər /
noun
(in many educational institutions) a division constituting half of the regular academic year, lasting typically from 15 to 18 weeks.
(in German universities) a session, lasting about six months and including periods of recess.
Words nearby semester
semelparous, sememe, semen, semenuria, semeru, semester, semester hour, semey, semi, semi-, semi-abstract
Origin of semester
1820–30; < German < Latin sēmē(n)stris of six months duration < *sex-mēnstris, equivalent to sex six + mēns(is) month + -tris adj. suffix (perhaps representing an earlier *mens(i)-teros)
OTHER WORDS FROM semester
se·mes·tral, se·mes·tri·al [si-mes-tree-uh l] /sɪˈmɛs tri əl/, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for semester
British Dictionary definitions for semester
semester
/ (sɪˈmɛstə) /
noun
(in some universities) either of two divisions of the academic year, ranging from 15 to 18 weeks
(in German universities) a session of six months
Derived forms of semester
semestral, adjectiveWord Origin for semester
C19: via German from Latin sēmestris half-yearly, from sex six + mensis a month
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