quarter

1 of 3

noun

quar·​ter ˈkwȯ(r)-tər 

also

ˈkȯ(r)- 

1

: one of four equal parts into which something is divisible : a fourth part

in the top quarter of his class

2

: any of various units of capacity or weight equal to or derived from one fourth of some larger unit

3

: any of various units of length or area equal to one fourth of some larger unit

4

: the fourth part of a measure of time: such as

a

: one of a set of four 3-month divisions of a year

business was up during the third quarter

b

: a school term of about 12 weeks

c

: quarter hour

a quarter after three

5

a

: a coin worth a quarter of a dollar

b

: the sum of 25 cents

6

a

: one limb of a quadruped with the adjacent parts

especially : one fourth part of the carcass of a slaughtered animal including a leg

b

quarters plural, chiefly British : hindquarter sense 2

7

a

: the region or direction lying under any of the four divisions of the horizon

b

: one of the four parts into which the horizon is divided or the cardinal point corresponding to it

c

: a compass point or direction other than the cardinal points

d(1)

: an unspecified person or group

financial help from many quarters

—Current Biography

(2)

: a point, direction, or place not definitely identified

the view to the rear quarter

—Consumer Reports

The oft-repeated Roman story is written in still legible characters in every quarter [=all over] of the Old World …

—Henry David Thoreau

8

a

: a division or district of a town or city

he describes the immigrant quarter

—Alfred Kazin

b

: the inhabitants of such a quarter

9

a

: an assigned station or post

b

quarters plural : an assembly of a ship's company for ceremony, drill, or emergency

c

quarters plural : living accommodations : lodgings

show you to your quarters

10

: merciful consideration of an opponent

a team that gave no quarter during the championship game

specifically : the clemency of not killing a defeated enemy

11

a

: a fourth part of the moon's period

b

: a half-illuminated phase of the moon that occurs a quarter period after or before a new moon

12

: the side of a horse's hoof between the toe and the heel see hoof illustration

13

a

: any of the four parts into which a heraldic field is divided

b

: a bearing or charge occupying the first fourth part of a heraldic field

14

: the stern area of a ship's side

15

: one side of the upper of a shoe or boot from heel to vamp

16

: one of the four equal periods into which the playing time of some games is divided

quarter

2 of 3

verb

quartered; quartering; quarters

transitive verb

1

a

: to cut or divide into four equal or nearly equal parts

quarter an apple

condemned to be hanged, drawn, and quartered

b

archaic : divide

2

: to provide with lodging or shelter

3

: to crisscross (an area) in many directions

4

a

: to arrange or bear (different coats of arms) quarterly on one escutcheon

b

: to add (a coat of arms) to others on one escutcheon

c

: to divide (a shield) into distinct sections (as by stripes)

intransitive verb

1

: lodge, dwell

2

: to crisscross a district

3

: to change from one quarter to another

the moon quarters

4

: to strike on a ship's quarter

the wind was quartering

quarter

3 of 3

adjective

: consisting of or equal to a quarter

Synonyms

Noun

• district
• nabe
• neighborhood
• section

Verb

• accommodate
• bestow
• billet
• bivouac
• board
• bunk
• camp
• chamber
• domicile
• encamp
• harbor
• house
• lodge
• put up
• roof
• room
• shelter
• take in

Examples of quarter in a Sentence

Noun

Cut the pie into quarters.

an inch and a quarter

a quarter of a cup of sugar

He was three quarters of an hour early.

Verb

The hunters quartered the deer.

We were quartered in log cabins at the camp.

Adjective

a quarter acre of land

They live less than a quarter mile from us.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Total purchases of 186 tonnes were down sharply from 364 tonnes in the third quarter of 2023. —Royston Wild, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024

Spending accelerated sharply in the third quarter, driven by purchases of big-ticket items, while spending on services eased a bit. —Bryan Mena, CNN, 30 Oct. 2024

Verb

Colby-Jack cheese slices, quartered (24 small squares total), divided 1 oz. —Karen Schroeder-Rankin, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2024

In 1305, Wallace was captured by a Scottish knight and turned over to Edward, who ordered him hanged, drawn and quartered as a traitor. —Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Sep. 2024

Adjective

The quarterly hedge fund filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission only show the quarter-end equity positions. —Jesse Pound, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2024

Last week, ProPublica published a comprehensive investigation detailing Clarence Thomas’s quarter-century friendship with Harlan Crow, a billionaire mega-donor for conservative causes and Republican candidates. —Matt Ford, The New Republic, 10 Apr. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin quartarius, from quartus fourth

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing quarter

• (a) quarter after
• (a) quarter of
• (a) quarter past
• (a) quarter to
• lamb's-quarter
• no quarter
• quarter-bound
• quarter day
• quarter horse
• quarter hour
• quarter note
• quarter panel
• quarter rest
• quarter section
• quarter sessions
• quarter tone
• three-quarter
• three-quarter-bound

Kids Definition

quarter

1 of 3 noun

quar·​ter ˈkwȯ(r)t-ər 

1

: one of four equal parts

2

: a unit (as of weight or length) that equals one fourth of some larger unit

3

a

: any of four 3-month divisions of a year

b

: a school term of about 12 weeks

c

: a coin worth a fourth of a dollar

d

: the sum of 25 cents

e

: one fourth part of a slaughtered animal including a leg

a quarter of beef

f

: a fourth part of the moon's period

a moon in its first quarter

g

: one of the four equal parts into which the playing time of some games is divided

4

: someone or something (as a place, direction, or group) not named

complaints came from all quarters

5

a

: a particular division or district of a city

b

: an assigned station especially of a member of a crew

call to quarters

c

plural : the place where one lives : lodging

6

: mercy sense 1a

show no quarter to the enemy

quarter

2 of 3 verb

1

a

: to divide into four equal parts

b

: to separate into parts

peel and quarter an orange

2

: to provide with lodging or shelter

quarter

3 of 3 adjective

: consisting of or equal to a quarter

Etymology

Noun

Middle English quarter "a fourth part," from early French quarter (same meaning), derived from Latin quartus "a fourth"

Medical Definition

quarter

noun

quar·​ter ˈkwȯ(r)t-ər 

1

: one limb of a quadruped with the adjacent parts

2

: one teat together with the part of a cow's udder that it drains

3

: the side of a horse's hoof between the toe and the heel