What is halve? How to use in English

Definition & pronunciation of halve

halveverb
một nửa
/hɑːv//hæv/

Where does the word halve come from?

The origin of the word "halve" can be traced back to the Old English language. In Old English, the word was spelled "hælan" and meant "to make whole, to heal." Over time, the meaning of the word began to shift. As the Middle English period began, "hælan" started to be used to mean "to cut in half." This new meaning may have arisen from the fact that when something is cut in half, it can be seen as being made whole once again in two separate pieces. In the 14th century, the word "halven" was introduced, which meant "the act of halving." "Halve," as we know it today, emerged in the 15th century as a shortened form of "halven." Interestingly, the word "halve" has come to have different meanings in different contexts. In mathematics, "halve" refers to dividing a number by two. In cooking, "halve" refers to cutting a food item in half. The dual meanings of the word highlight the way that language continues to evolve and adapt over time.

Vocabulary summary halve

type transitive verb

meaning split in half; split equally (with someone)

meaning halve, reduce by half (the cost of...)

meaning Clamp (two pieces of wood crossed together)

type Default

meaning (computer) halve

Example of vocabulary halvenamespace

to reduce by a half; to make something reduce by a half

The shares have halved in value.
The company is halving its prices.
The recipe called for two cups of sugar, but I decided to halve the amount since I didn't want the dessert to be too sweet.
After splitting the rent with his roommate, John was left with half of the total expenses.
She requested that the price of the item be halved as there was a mistake in the labeling.

to divide something into two equal parts