quarter
quarter — verb
1. to take a whole item and split it into four pieces of roughly the same size
to take a whole item and split it into four pieces of roughly the same size
Nellie quartered the apple and shared it with her three children.
active voice: quarter + food item
The recipe says to quarter the potatoes before putting them into the pot.
The butcher quartered the whole chicken so it would fit in the roasting pan.
quarter + meat/poultry for cooking
The chef quartered each ripe tomato and fanned the slices across a large white plate.
active voice: quarter + ripe tomato, then arrange slices
- quarter an apple
- quarter a chicken
- quarter potatoes
- quarter tomatoes
- quartered and placed
Grammar Patterns
quarter + noun phrase (object that can be divided)
Usage Note
Used mainly for food items such as fruit, vegetables, and meat. The resulting pieces do not have to be mathematically exact, but they should be similar in size.
Common Mistakes
2. to provide someone, especially members of a military force, with a place to stay
to provide someone, especially members of a military force, with a place to stay or live, often temporarily
The army quartered the new recruits in an old barracks near the training ground.
army quartered + troops + in + place
During the campaign, the soldiers were quartered in abandoned houses for the winter.
passive: soldiers were quartered in [place]
Families near the battlefield were sometimes required to quarter officers in their homes.
The general quartered his troops at a farm on the outskirts of the village.
Noor's great-grandmother once quartered a group of visiting soldiers in the family barn.
civilian providing lodging: quarter + soldiers + in [place]
- quarter troops
- quarter soldiers
- quarter recruits
- quarter officers
- quartered in barracks
- quartered in a house
- house
Less formal; common in both military and civilian contexts
- accommodate
More general; covers any type of lodging arrangement
Grammar Patterns
quarter + someone + in/at + place
be quartered + in/at + place
Usage Note
Frequently used in the passive voice. The place of lodging is introduced by 'in' or, less often, 'at'. In modern English, this sense is mostly limited to military contexts.
Common Mistakes
quarter — noun
1. each of the four same-sized portions that a whole thing or amount can be divided
each of the four same-sized portions that a whole thing or amount can be divided into
Astrid cut the apple into four quarters and gave one to each child.
collocation: cut into quarters
Nearly a quarter of the students at Linh's school come from farming families.
collocation: a quarter of + noun group
Three quarters of the class voted to hold the party on Friday instead of Monday.
collocation: three quarters of + group
The recipe asks for one quarter of a cup of milk in the cake batter.
Three quarters of the land on the hill belongs to the national park service.
plural form: three quarters
- a quarter of
- cut into quarters
- three quarters
- quarter of an hour
- quarter of a century
- fourth
used more in US English; 'quarter' is more common in everyday speech globally
- twenty-five percent
more technical or mathematical; 'quarter' is more natural in daily conversation
Usage Note
Often appears in fractions with 'a' (a quarter), 'one' (one quarter), or larger numbers with 's' (three quarters). Common in measurements, statistics, and everyday division contexts.
Common Mistakes
2. fifteen minutes of time, representing one fourth of an hour
fifteen minutes of time, representing one fourth of an hour
The train from Taichung arrives every quarter of an hour during rush hour.
collocation: every quarter of an hour
Ayana waited a quarter of an hour at the bus stop then walked home in the rain.
collocation: wait a quarter of an hour
The oven timer beeps in a quarter of an hour when the chicken is ready.
Rodrigo set a meeting in a quarter of an hour in the conference room upstairs.
- quarter of an hour
- every quarter
- wait a quarter
- in a quarter
- quarter of an hour
fuller expression; 'quarter' as a standalone noun is slightly informal or time-saving
- 15 minutes
neutral and explicit; 'quarter' implies the same duration when context is clear
Usage Note
This sense refers to a 15-minute duration without specifying a clock hour. When telling time on the clock (e.g. 'quarter to three'), see the QUARTER TO and QUARTER PAST senses below.
Common Mistakes
3. 15 minutes before a named hour, used when telling the time
15 minutes before a named hour, used when telling the time
The first class starts at a quarter to eight every weekday morning.
pattern: quarter to + hour
Nellie arrived at a quarter to nine and found the meeting had already begun.
The library closes at a quarter to six on Sundays during the summer break.
Kian checked his watch and saw it was a quarter to midnight already.
- a quarter to
- quarter to [hour]
- at a quarter to
- quarter of
used in American English to mean the same thing, e.g. 'quarter of eight'
- fifteen to
less common; used in some regions or formal contexts
Usage Note
In American English, 'quarter of [hour]' is also used (e.g., 'quarter of eight'). In British and Australian English, 'quarter to' is standard. This pattern always requires the article 'a' before 'quarter'.
Common Mistakes
4. 15 minutes after a named hour, used when telling the time
15 minutes after a named hour, used when telling the time
Lunch is served in the cafeteria at a quarter past twelve every day.
pattern: quarter past + hour
Caio called his mother at a quarter past seven to wish her a good morning.
The bus to the station comes at a quarter past two on weekday afternoons.
Ignacio watched the clock hit a quarter past ten and rushed to the gate.
- a quarter past
- quarter past [hour]
- at a quarter past
- quarter after
used in American English, e.g. 'quarter after seven'
- fifteen past
less common outside military or radio communication contexts
Usage Note
In American English, 'quarter after [hour]' is more common. In British and Australian English, 'quarter past' is standard. The article 'a' is required before 'quarter'.
Common Mistakes
5. one of four three-month periods into which a calendar or financial year is divid
one of four three-month periods into which a calendar or financial year is divided, used for reporting profits, taxes, and other financial results
The electronics company Shin-Etsu saw profits rise sharply in the third quarter of last year.
collocation: first/second/third/fourth quarter
Talia works in accounting and prepares tax reports at the end of each quarter.
preposition: end of each quarter
Ritu invested in the fund last quarter and has already seen a good return.
Aoi reviews her department sales at each quarter's end to plan next season.
The store's biggest sales usually happen in the final quarter before the holidays.
- first quarter
- end of the quarter
- quarter earnings
- quarter results
- fiscal quarter
- last quarter
- Q1/Q2/Q3/Q4
abbreviated form commonly used in business; 'Q3' means 'third quarter'
- three-month period
more general; 'quarter' specifically implies one of four such periods in a year
Usage Note
Often appears with ordinal numbers (first quarter, Q1, etc.). Companies use fiscal quarters that may start in months different from the calendar year. 'Quarterly' is the adjective form.
Common Mistakes
6. one of four equal periods of playing time into which certain sports games, espec
one of four equal periods of playing time into which certain sports games, especially American football and basketball, are divided
The home team scored twenty points in the first quarter of the basketball game.
collocation: first/second/third/fourth quarter
Henry's coach told the team to save their energy for the final quarter.
The quarterback was injured during the third quarter and did not return.
Fans cheered loudly when the score tied with two minutes left in the quarter.
- first quarter
- final quarter
- quarter score
- in the [ordinal] quarter
- end of the quarter
- period
generic term; 'quarter' specifically indicates one of four equal segments
Usage Note
Not used for all sports: soccer uses 'halves', tennis uses 'sets', rugby uses 'halves'. In American football, each quarter lasts 15 minutes; in basketball, each quarter lasts 12 minutes in the NBA.
7. a round silver-coloured piece of money worth 25 cents, used in the United States
a round silver-coloured piece of money worth 25 cents, used in the United States and Canada
Beatrix used a quarter to buy a candy bar from the vending machine.
The parking meter only accepts quarters, so Bilal had to get change.
common collocation: parking meter + quarter
Lara found three quarters in her coat pocket and put them in a charity box.
When Noa visited Canada, she noticed the quarter has a maple leaf on it.
variety note: Canadian quarter design differs from US
A vending machine on the corner took quarters and gave out cold drinks.
- a quarter
- two quarters
- in quarters
- quarters only
- 25-cent piece
more formal or written, less common in speech
Usage Note
This sense is used mainly in the US and Canada, where 25-cent coins are in daily circulation. Learners from other countries may not carry quarters.
Common Mistakes
8. a section of a city or town with a distinct character, such as a historic neighb
a section of a city or town with a distinct character, such as a historic neighbourhood or a cultural area
The French Quarter in New Orleans is famous for its music and restaurants.
proper noun: French Quarter (New Orleans district)
Ravindra's family runs a small grocery shop in the Latin Quarter of the city.
The financial quarter of London is full of tall office buildings.
collocation: financial quarter / business quarter / shopping quarter
Lan found a cheap apartment in the student quarter near the university campus.
Tourists often visit the historic quarter of the old town on weekends.
- historic quarter
- financial quarter
- student quarter
- Latin Quarter
- French Quarter
- district
more general, can apply to any area
- neighbourhood
more residential and community-focused
- area
broader, less specific about character
Common Mistakes
9. an unnamed person or group whose opinion, support, news, or reaction is being me
an unnamed person or group whose opinion, support, news, or reaction is being mentioned, without stating exactly who they are
News reports from official quarters suggest the trade talks in Geneva are making steady progress.
pattern: from [adjective] quarters — unspecified source
Support for the renewable energy policy came from unexpected quarters within the manufacturing industry.
Élise received encouraging words from several quarters after her presentation on urban farming projects.
Criticism of the new curriculum reform has been growing in educational quarters across Taipei.
pattern: in [domain] quarters — reactions within a field
There is concern in some quarters that the project might be too expensive.
- from official quarters
- from all quarters
- in some quarters
- from certain quarters
- in educational quarters
Grammar Patterns
from ... quarters
in some quarters
Usage Note
Almost always appears in set phrases like 'from … quarters', 'in some quarters', or 'from all quarters'. The source's identity is deliberately vague.
Common Mistakes
10. a room, set of rooms, or small house provided for someone to live in, especially
a room, set of rooms, or small house provided for someone to live in, especially for servants, soldiers, or other staff and their families
The servants' quarters were located at the back of the old mansion.
common pattern: [role]'s quarters — possessive before the word
Gabriel visited the officers' quarters on the military base during the tour.
The ambassador's private quarters are on the top floor of the embassy building.
The hotel staff have comfortable living quarters in a separate building nearby.
collocation: living quarters — most common modifier
During the war, the soldiers were ordered to stay in their assigned quarters.
- living quarters
- servants' quarters
- officers' quarters
- private quarters
- assigned quarters
- lodgings
more general and slightly dated
- accommodation
broader, can include hotels and temporary housing
Usage Note
Often used in the plural form 'quarters'. The singular 'quarter' is rare and sounds dated for this sense. Distinguish from sense 11 (COMPANY HOUSING) which refers specifically to employee housing provided by a company, not servant or military quarters.
Common Mistakes
11. a house or apartment that a company provides for one of its employees to live in
a house or apartment that a company provides for one of its employees to live in, often as part of the job benefits
Salma's new job at the research station comes with a quarter near the lab.
The mining company provides quarters for workers who live far from town.
pattern: company + provides + quarters for [type of worker]
Christopher and his family moved into the company quarter next to the school.
collocation: company quarter — employer-provided home
The teachers at the remote school are given a quarter with basic furniture included.
- company quarter
- provide quarters
- live in quarters
- staff quarters
- tied accommodation
British English term for housing tied to a job
Usage Note
Less common in modern urban contexts, but still used for remote work sites (mines, oil rigs, research stations, schools in rural areas). Distinguish from sense 10 (LIVING SPACE), which covers traditional servant/soldier accommodations.
12. kindness, pity, or forgiveness shown to someone you have defeated or who is in a
kindness, pity, or forgiveness shown to someone you have defeated or who is in a weaker position than you
The invading army gave no quarter to the villagers who resisted them.
fixed phrase: give no quarter — show no mercy
In medieval times, a knight who asked for quarter expected to be treated with mercy.
fixed phrase: ask for quarter — request mercy in battle
The boxing match was brutal — neither fighter gave quarter to the other.
Zuri argued that the court should show some quarter to the young offender.
pattern: show quarter — grant leniency
After the long siege, the general gave no quarter to the few defenders in the fort.
- give no quarter
- ask for quarter
- show quarter
- cry quarter
- ruthlessness
absence of mercy
Grammar Patterns
give no quarter
ask for quarter
show quarter
Usage Note
Almost always used in fixed phrases: 'give no quarter' (show no mercy), 'ask for/cry quarter' (beg for mercy), 'show quarter' (show mercy). The word 'quarter' alone in this sense is rare outside these patterns.
Common Mistakes
13. a period of about twelve weeks that forms one fourth of a school or university y
a period of about twelve weeks that forms one fourth of a school or university year, during which students attend classes and sit for exams.
The University of Oregon runs three quarters per year instead of two semesters.
collocation: runs three quarters
Aylin registered for four courses in the fall quarter at the state university.
attributive use: fall quarter
Each quarter at the community college lasts about eleven weeks of instruction.
Final exams in the spring quarter at Osaka University start next Monday.
Gabriel transferred to a university in California that uses the quarter system.
compound noun: quarter system
- fall quarter
- spring quarter
- winter quarter
- quarter system
- quarter schedule
- quarter plan
Usage Note
Primarily used in the US and Canada to describe the academic calendar at colleges that divide the year into three or four teaching periods, rather than two semesters.
Common Mistakes
14. one of the two points in the moon's cycle each month when half of its visible fa
one of the two points in the moon's cycle each month when half of its visible face is lit by the sun, appearing as a half-circle shape in the sky.
The first quarter moon is visible in the western sky at sunset.
compound noun: first quarter moon
Aylin checked her astronomy calendar for the date of the next quarter moon.
The old farmer in the valley always planted his crops by the quarter moon phases.
collocation: quarter moon phases
Coastal fishermen know that tides are higher during new moon and the last quarter.
Amira pointed her telescope at the crisp quarter moon above the desert horizon.
- first quarter
- last quarter
- quarter moon
- quarter phase
- half moon
describes the same visual appearance but without specifying first or last in the cycle
Usage Note
Usually appears as first quarter (waxing half) or last quarter (waning half). A quarter moon is distinct from a crescent moon, which shows less than half of the surface.
Common Mistakes
15. a primary direction on a compass — such as north, south, east, or west — or a re
a primary direction on a compass — such as north, south, east, or west — or a reading taken from one of those points.
The ship changed course and sailed toward the southern quarter.
collocation: southern quarter
Rodrigo oriented his map to find which quarter the mountain road followed.
Wind from the northern quarter brought a sudden drop in temperature.
pattern: from the [direction] quarter
The ancient Roman army camp was divided into four quarters aligned with the compass.
Minh calculated the bearing by noting the compass's western quarter before the storm arrived.
- eastern quarter
- western quarter
- northern quarter
- southern quarter
- from the ... quarter
- cardinal point
more technical; refers specifically to north, south, east, west
- compass point
broader; includes both cardinal and intercardinal directions
Usage Note
Often used in nautical or geographical contexts. The four cardinal points are the primary quarters; intermediate points are expressed as e.g. 'south-western quarter'.
Common Mistakes
Very near to someone or something.
The photographer captured the lion from close quarters.
Have you ever seen a whale at close quarters?
quarter — adjective
1. placed before a unit of measurement to mean one fourth of it: for example, a qua
placed before a unit of measurement to mean one fourth of it: for example, a quarter pound of cheese, a quarter mile run, or a quarter century
Roya bought a quarter pound of Swiss cheese at the market.
attributive: quarter + unit of weight
The company offered Lien a quarter share of the annual profits.
attributive: quarter + abstract noun (share)
The old oak tree had been standing for nearly a quarter century.
collocation: quarter century
Rafael ran a quarter mile in under sixty seconds during gym class.
Ife divided the land into quarter sections for the new housing project.
- quarter pound
- quarter mile
- quarter century
- quarter share
- quarter section
- quarter portion
- fourth
More common in American English; 'fourth' can replace 'quarter' in most fraction uses ('a fourth of a mile').
Grammar Patterns
quarter + noun (unit or amount)
Usage Note
Only used before a noun (attributive position). You cannot say 'the mile was quarter' — the noun must follow this adjective directly.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/8
A 'quarter' in the DISTRICT sense labels a section of a city with a recognisable character or function — typically a historic or tourist area such as the French Quarter or the student quarter. 'District' is the closest synonym and can often replace 'quarter' (e.g. the financial district / the financial quarter), but 'district' tends to be more official or administrative. 'Neighbourhood' shifts the focus to the residential community and everyday life rather than character or tourism: a student neighbourhood has good cafes, while a student quarter is a named zone of the city. 'Area' is the broadest term, usable for any size or type of place, indoors or outdoors. 'Region' refers to a much larger geographical zone (a region of a country), not a city section. For a learner: 'She rented a flat in the Latin Quarter' (named district) vs 'Her neighbourhood is quiet and friendly' (community feel) vs 'The business area has tall office buildings' (general zone).
Common collocations
Etymology
Quarter entered English through Old French 'quartier', which came from Latin 'quartarius' — a fourth part of a measure. The core idea of 'one fourth' then branched out: a quarter of an hour (15 minutes), a quarter-dollar coin (25 cents), a city district (one of four quarters of a town), a three-month fiscal period (one quarter of a year), and even the verb sense of lodging troops (placing them in quarters). All modern meanings trace back to that original fourth-part meaning.