Quarters: meaning, definitions and examples

Use 'quarters' when referring to any of the four equal parts into which something is divided, particularly in business and financial contexts to describe three-month periods in a fiscal year.

• The company's earnings are reported quarterly, so they release their financial statements every three months.
• Housing is provided for students during the academic quarters.

'Trimester' is specifically used for dividing a year into three equal parts. It's often used in academic settings and also in pregnancy to describe the three stages of gestation.

• The academic year is divided into three trimesters, each lasting about twelve weeks.
• She is in her second trimester of pregnancy and feeling much better.

'Term' is commonly used in educational contexts to describe the divisions of the academic year. It can also be used to describe the duration of a contract or someone's time in office.

• The fall term begins in September and ends in December.
• He was elected for a four-year term as mayor.

'Period' is more general and can refer to any length of time. It's often used in educational settings, historical contexts, or to describe phases in someone's life.

• The Renaissance was a period of great cultural and artistic change in Europe.
• You have a free period after math class today.

Used to refer to living spaces or accommodations. It can also be used to describe specific sections of a building or ship designated for a particular group of people.

• The soldiers returned to their quarters after the mission
• The ship's officers have separate quarters from the crew

Used to refer to a distinct and specific part of something larger, like a document, area, or group. Appropriate for describing divisions in written texts, physical spaces, or groups.

• The library has a quiet section for studying
• This section of the report discusses our financial plan

Used to refer to a clearly defined part of something that is often continuous or connected, such as time, a market, or a line.

• The TV show aired a special segment on climate change
• The company is targeting a new segment of the market

Typically used to refer to a part of something larger, often regarding food or allocations. It's about a share or a helping of a whole.

• She served each guest a generous portion of the cake
• The donation was only a small portion of what the charity needed