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half1 S1 W1
[only before noun]
[only before noun]1 exactly or about 50% (½) of an amount, time, distance, number etc 
Only half the guests had arrived by seven o'clock.If you look at our members, at least half are women.
50%
Only half the guests had arrived by seven o'clock.If you look at our members, at least half are women. half a mile/pound/hour etc half a pound of butter It's about half a mile down the road. She drank half a bottle of wine.
half a pound of butterIt's about half a mile down the road.She drank half a bottle of wine. a half hour/mile etc You can't just waltz in a half hour late. It's about a half mile down the road. a half day excursion to the island He demanded a half share of the money.
You can't just waltz in a half hour late.It's about a half mile down the road.a half day excursion to the islandHe demanded a half share of the money. half the price/size/length etc It's only half the size of a normal violin. They offered to pay half the cost of repairs.
It's only half the size of a normal violin.They offered to pay half the cost of repairs.2 the largest part of something
most of
half of We missed half of what he said because someone was talking.
We missed half of what he said because someone was talking.3 thirty minutes after the hour mentioned : I rang at about half six. I got home at about half past one. We'll be there by seven or half past.
time
half (past) one/two/three etc
British EnglishTMCI rang at about half six.I got home at about half past one.We'll be there by seven or half past.4 if something is half one thing and half something else, it is a combination of those two things : He's half English, half Swiss.
combination
He's half English, half Swiss.5
half a dozen
a) HMN six : half a dozen eggs
half a dozen eggsb) a small number of people or things : There were half a dozen other people in front of me.
There were half a dozen other people in front of me.6 a small opportunity to do something, especially one which someone would take eagerly :
half a/the chance
7 if you have half an eye on something, or if you are listening with half an ear, you are giving only part of your attention to it : He listened with only half an ear and his thoughts wandered. The teacher kept half an eye on them all through the lesson.
half an eye/ear
He listened with only half an ear and his thoughts wandered.The teacher kept half an eye on them all through the lesson.8 used to say that when you have done the most difficult part of an activity, the rest is easy : Getting the audience to like you is half the battle.
be half the battle
spokenGetting the audience to like you is half the battle.9 a very short time : Hold on, this will only take half a second.
half a minute/moment/second etc
spokenHold on, this will only take half a second.10 an explanation that is not complete, used especially to say that someone is trying to keep something secret : Journalists are convinced that she was only telling them half the story.
only half the story
Journalists are convinced that she was only telling them half the story.11 used to say that you would like to do something but you probably will not do it : He had half a mind to ask for his money back. I have half a mind to tell your mother about this.
have half a mind to do something
spokenHe had half a mind to ask for his money back.I have half a mind to tell your mother about this.12 actions or methods that are not strong enough, and so are not effective in dealing with a difficult problem : This is no time for half measures.
half measures
This is no time for half measures.GRAMMAR 
GRAMMAR 
!! You do not usually say 'the half' • I've only read half of the story (NOT I've only read the half of the story). The only time you say 'the half' is when you are referring to a particular half • the first half of the book!! Do not say 'one and half', 'two and half' etc. Say one and a half, two and a half etc • She is two and a half years old. These numbers are followed by a plural noun, not a singular one • one and a half days (NOT one and a half day)!! Do not say 'half of hour'. Say half an hour or, especially in spoken American English, a half hour.
GRAMMAR !! You do not usually say 'the half' • I've only read half of the story (NOT I've only read the half of the story). The only time you say 'the half' is when you are referring to a particular half • the first half of the book!! Do not say 'one and half', 'two and half' etc. Say one and a half, two and a half etc • She is two and a half years old. These numbers are followed by a plural noun, not a singular one • one and a half days (NOT one and a half day)!! Do not say 'half of hour'. Say half an hour or, especially in spoken American English, a half hour.
