Halved: meaning, definitions and examples
✂️
halved
[ hævd ]
dividing something
Halved is the past tense of the verb 'halve,' which means to divide something into two equal parts. This action is often undertaken in cooking, where ingredients are halved for recipes, or in discussions of quantities and sizes in mathematics. When an object, quantity, or concept is halved, it is effectively reduced to half its original amount. The concept can also extend to abstract ideas, such as halving a budget or a workload.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- She halved the cake for the party.
- The company halved its expenses this quarter.
- He halved the distance to make the trip easier.
Translations
Translations of the word "halved" in other languages:
🇵🇹 metade
🇮🇳 आधा
🇩🇪 halbiert
🇮🇩 setengah
🇺🇦 половина
🇵🇱 połowa
🇯🇵 半分
🇫🇷 moitié
🇪🇸 mitad
🇹🇷 yarım
🇰🇷 절반
🇸🇦 نصف
🇨🇿 polovina
🇸🇰 polovica
🇨🇳 一半
🇸🇮 polovica
🇮🇸 helmingur
🇰🇿 жартысы
🇬🇪 ნახევარი
🇦🇿 yarım
🇲🇽 mitad
Etymology
The word 'halve' comes from the Middle English word 'halven,' which is derived from the Old English 'healf,' meaning 'half.' The Old English term reflects the Germanic roots of the word, which can be traced back to Proto-Germanic origins. The transition from 'healf' to 'halven' occurred as the English language evolved, influenced by various linguistic shifts and borrowings from neighboring languages. This development mirrored the evolution of the concept itself, as the idea of halving became essential across different cultures and languages for describing division and proportions in mathematics, cooking, and everyday life. Over the centuries, 'halve' has maintained its essential meaning, with its usage expanding into both literal and metaphorical realms. It signifies not just the physical act of cutting something in two but also the idea of reducing quantities or proportions in various contexts.