quarter

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 of 4 parts 1 (also fourth especially in AmE) [C] one of four equal parts of sth: a quarter of a mile * The programme lasted an hour and a quarter. * Cut the apple into quarters. * The theatre was about three quarters full. -< HALF 15 minutes 2 [C] a period of 15 minutes either before or after every hour: It's (a) quarter to four now-I'll meet you at quarter past. * (AmE also) It's (a) quarter of four now-I'll meet you at a quarter after. 3 months 3 [C] a period of three months, used especially as a period for which bills are paid or a company's income is calculated: The rent is due at the end of each quarter. * Our gas bill for the last quarter was much higher than usual. * Sales were up 10% in the first quarter of 1999. part of town 4 [C,usually sing.] a district or part of a town: the Latin quarter * the historic quarter of the city person / group 5 [C] a person or group of people, especially as a source of help, information or a reaction: Support for the plan came from an unexpected quarter. * The news was greeted with dismay in some quarters. 25 cents 6 [C] a coin of the US and Canada worth 25 cents rooms to live in 7 (quarters) [pl.] rooms that are provided for soldiers, servants, etc. to live in: We were moved to more comfortable living quarters. * married quarters of moon 8 [C] the period of time twice a month when we can see a quarter of the moon: The moon is in its first quarter. in sport 9 [C] one of the four periods of time into which a game of American football is divided weight 10 [C] a unit for measuring weight, 28 pounds in the UK or 25 pounds in the US; a quarter of a HUNDREDWEIGHT pity 11 [U] (old-fashioned or literary) pity or MERCY that sb shows towards an enemy or opponent who is in their power: His rivals knew that they could expect no quarter from such a ruthless adversary. IDIOMS see CLOSEadj. verb [VN] divide into 4 1 to cut or divide sth into four parts: She peeled and quartered an apple. provide rooms 2 (formal) to provide sb with a place to eat and sleep: Three hundred soldiers were quartered in the town.