semi
[ sem-ee, sem-ahy ]
/ ˈsɛm i, ˈsɛm aɪ /
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noun Informal.
Often semis. semifinal (def. 3).
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Origin of semi
By shortening
Other definitions for semi (2 of 2)
semi-
a combining form borrowed from Latin, meaning “half,” freely prefixed to English words of any origin, now sometimes with the senses “partially,” “incompletely,” “somewhat”: semiautomatic; semidetached; semimonthly; semisophisticated.
Origin of semi-
Middle English <Latin sēmi-; cognate with Old English sōm-, sām- half (modern dial. sam-), Old High German sāmi-,Sanskrit sāmi-,Greek hēmi-;cf. sesqui-
words often confused with semi-
See bi-1.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use semi in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for semi (1 of 2)
semi
/ (ˈsɛmɪ) /
noun plural semis
British a semidetached house
short for semifinal
US, Canadian, Australian and NZ short for semitrailer
British Dictionary definitions for semi (2 of 2)
semi-
prefix
halfsemicircle Compare demi- (def. 1), hemi-
partially, partly, not completely, or almostsemiprofessional; semifinal
occurring twice in a specified period of timesemiannual; semiweekly
Word Origin for semi-
from Latin; compare Old English sōm-, sām- half, Greek hēmi-
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Medical definitions for semi
semi-
pref.
Half:semicanal.
Partial; partially:semiconscious.
Resembling or having some of the characteristics of:semilunar.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Scientific definitions for semi
semi-
A prefix that means half, (as in semicircle, half a circle) or partly, somewhat, less than fully, (as in semiconscious, partly conscious).
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.