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quar·ter  (kwôr?t?r)n.1. One of four equal parts.2. A coin equal to one fourth of the dollar of the United States and Canada.3. One fourth of an hour; 15 minutes.4. Abbr. Qa. One fourth of a year; three months: Sales were up in the second quarter.b. An academic term lasting approximately three months.5. Astronomy a. One fourth of the period of the moon’s revolution around Earth.b. One of the two phases of the moon at which the moon, as viewed from Earth, appears to be half illuminated by the sun. The quarter phases mark the quarter and three-quarter points of the moon’s revolution about the Earth.6. Sports One of four equal periods of playing time into which some games, such as football and basketball, are divided.7. One fourth of a yard; nine inches.8. One fourth of a mile; two furlongs.9. One fourth of a pound; four ounces.10. One fourth of a ton; 500 pounds. Used as a measure of grain.11. Chiefly British A measure of grain equal to approximately eight bushels.12. a. One fourth of a hundredweight; 25 pounds.b. One fourth of a British hundredweight; 28 pounds.13. a. One of the four major divisions of the compass.b. One fourth of the distance between any two of the 32 divisions of the compass.c. One of the four major divisions of the horizon as determined by the four major points of the compass.d. A region or an area of the earth thought of as falling into such a specific division of the compass.e. Nautical The general direction on either side of a ship located 45° off the stern.14. Nautical a. The upper portion of the after side of a ship, usually between the aftermost mast and the stern.b. The part of a yard between the slings and the yardarm.15. Heraldry Any of four equal divisions of a shield.16. One leg of an animal’s carcass, usually including the adjoining parts.17. Either side of a horse’s hoof.18. The part of the side of a shoe between the heel and the vamp.19. quarters A place of residence, especially the buildings or barracks used to house military personnel or their dependents.20. often quarters A proper or assigned station or place, as for officers and crew on a warship.21. often Quarter A specific district or section, as of a city: the French Quarter.22. often quarters An unspecified person or group: information from the highest quarters.23. Mercy or clemency, especially when displayed or given to an enemy.adj.1. Being one of four equal or equivalent parts.2. Being one fourth of a standard or usual value.v. quar·tered, quar·ter·ing, quar·ters v.tr.1. a. To divide into four equal or equivalent parts.b. To quartersaw.2. To divide or separate into a number of parts.3. To dismember (a human body) into four parts.4. Heraldry To divide (a shield) into four equal areas with vertical and horizontal lines.5. a. To mark or place (holes, for example) a fourth of a circle apart.b. To locate and adjust (one machine part) at right angles to its connecting part within the machine.6. To furnish with housing: quartered the troops in an old factory building.7. To traverse (an area of ground) laterally back and forth while slowly advancing forward.v.intr.1. To take up or be assigned lodgings.2. To cover an area of ground by ranging over it from side to side.[Middle English, from Old French quartier, from Latin qu?rt?rius, from qu?rtus, fourth; see kwetwer- in Indo-European roots.]Usage Note: When referring to the time of day, the article a is optional in phrases such as (a) quarter to (or of, before, or till) nine; (a) quarter after (or past) ten.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.quarter (?kw??t?) n1. (Mathematics) one of four equal or nearly equal parts of an object, quantity, amount, etc2. (Mathematics) Also called: fourth the fraction equal to one divided by four ()3. (Currencies) US and Canadian a quarter of a dollar; 25-cent piece4. (Units) a unit of weight equal to a quarter of a hundredweight. 1 US quarter is equal to 25 pounds; 1 Brit quarter is equal to 28 pounds5. (Units) short for quarter-hour6. (Units) a fourth part of a year; three months7. (Astronomy) astronomy a. one fourth of the moon’s period of revolution around the earthb. either of two phases of the moon, first quarter or last quarter, when half of the lighted surface is visible from the earth8. (Units) informal a unit of weight equal to a quarter of a pound or 4 ounces9. (Units) Brit a unit of capacity for grain, etc, usually equal to 8 UK bushels10. (General Sporting Terms) sport one of the four periods into which certain games are divided11. (Nautical Terms) nautical the part of a vessel’s side towards the stern, usually aft of the aftermost mast: the port quarter. 12. (Nautical Terms) nautical the general direction along the water in the quadrant between the beam of a vessel and its stern: the wind was from the port quarter. 13. (Human Geography) a region or district of a town or city: the Spanish quarter. 14. (Navigation) a region, direction, or point of the compass15. (sometimes plural) an unspecified person or group of people: to get word from the highest quarter. 16. mercy or pity, as shown to a defeated opponent (esp in the phrases ask for or give quarter)17. (Zoology) any of the four limbs, including the adjacent parts, of the carcass of a quadruped or bird: a hind quarter of beef. 18. (Veterinary Science) vet science the side part of the wall of a horse’s hoof19. (Clothing & Fashion) the part of a shoe or boot covering the heel and joining the vamp20. (Heraldry) heraldry one of four more or less equal quadrants into which a shield may be divided21. (Military) military slang short for quartermaster22. (Nautical Terms) military slang short for quartermastervb23. (tr) to divide into four equal or nearly equal parts24. (tr) to divide into any number of parts25. (tr) (esp formerly) to dismember (a human body): to be drawn and quartered. 26. (Military) to billet or be billeted in lodgings, esp (of military personnel) in civilian lodgings27. (Hunting) (intr) (of gun dogs or hounds) to range over an area of ground in search of game or the scent of quarry28. (Nautical Terms) (intr) nautical (of the wind) to blow onto a vessel’s quarter: the wind began to quarter. 29. (Heraldry) (tr) heraldry a. to divide (a shield) into four separate bearings with a crossb. to place (one set of arms) in diagonally opposite quarters to anotheradjbeing or consisting of one of four equal parts: a quarter pound of butter. [C13: from Old French quartier, from Latin quart?rius a fourth part, from quartus fourth]Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014quar?ter (?kw?r t?r) n. 1. one of the four equal or equivalent parts into which anything is or may be divided. 2. a fourth part, esp. of one (¼). 3. one fourth of a U.S. or Canadian dollar, equivalent to 25 cents. 4. a coin of this value. 5. one fourth of an hour; 15 minutes. 6. the moment marking this period: The clock struck the quarter. 7. one fourth of a calendar or fiscal year. 8. a fourth of the moon’s period or monthly revolution, being that portion of its period or orbital course between a quadrature and a syzygy. 9. a term of instruction at a school or college lasting about 10 to 12 weeks. 10. any of the four equal periods of play in certain games, as football and basketball. Compare half (def. 3). 11. one fourth of a pound. 12. one fourth of a mile; 2 furlongs. 13. one fourth of a yard; 9 inches. 14. one fourth of a hundredweight: in the U.S. equaling 25 lbs. and in Britain 28 lbs. 15. a. the region of any of the four principal points of the compass or divisions of the horizon. b. such a point or division. c. any point or direction of the compass. d. the fourth part of the distance between any two adjacent points of the 32 marked on a compass. 16. a region, district, or place. 17. a district of a city or town, esp. one largely occupied by a particular group: the Turkish quarter. 18. Usu., quarters. a. housing accommodations, as a place of residence; lodgings. b. the buildings, rooms, etc., occupied by military personnel or their families. 19. Often, quarters. an unspecified person or group serving as a source: secret information from a high quarter. 20. mercy or indulgence, esp. as shown in sparing the life of a vanquished enemy: to give quarter. 21. one of the four parts, each including a leg, of the body or carcass of a quadruped. 22. the side of a horse’s hoof between the toe and heel. 23. the part of a boot or shoe on each side of the foot, from the middle of the back to the vamp. 24. a. the after part of a ship’s side, usu. from about the aftermost mast to the stern. b. the general horizontal direction 45° from the stern of a ship on either side. c. one of the stations to which crew members are called for battle, emergencies, or drills. d. the part of a yard between the slings and the yardarm. 25. a. any of the four equal areas into which an escutcheon can be divided. b. a charge occupying a quarter. v.t. 26. to divide into four equal or equivalent parts. 27. to divide into parts fewer or more than four. 28. to cut the body of (a person) into quarters, esp. after executing for treason. 29. to furnish with lodging. 30. to traverse (the ground) from left to right and right to left while advancing, as dogs in search of game. 31. a. to divide (an escutcheon) into four or more parts. b. to place or bear quarterly (different coats of arms, etc.) on an escutcheon. c. to display (a coat of arms) with one’s own on an escutcheon. v.i. 32. to take up or be in quarters; lodge. 33. to range to and fro, as dogs in search of game. 34. to sail so as to have the wind or sea on the quarter. adj. 35. being one of four equal or approximately equal parts. 36. being equal to only about one fourth of the full measure. [1250?1300; Middle English At a British school, each year is divided into three terms. At an American school, it is divided into four terms.At a British college or university, each year is also divided into three terms.At an American college or university, it is divided into two semesters, three trimesters, or four quarters.