halve

Everyday

1. To halve something is to cut or divide it into two equal parts. tree →
2. To halve an amount is to make it half as big. tree →
3. Halved means made half as big, or cut into halves. tree →

In the lessons

An operation: divide by 2. In cooking: halve a recipe, halve an apple. In everyday life: halve the cost with a friend. In science: halve the water and see what happens. Phrases: «halve it», «cut in half», «halved the price».

Examples

• Halve the 12 apples between two boys. tree →
• The price was halved to 20 dollars. tree →
• She halves the recipe. tree →
• If you halve 50, you get 25. tree →
• Mum halved the sandwich for me and my sister. tree →
• Halve the oranges and squeeze out the juice. tree →
• Walking to school halved the time I spend in traffic. tree →
• If we share the bill, we halve the cost. tree →

Note

Halve means ÷ 2. Trap: «halved to 20» gives the new amount, so the old amount was 40; «halved by» is unusual and still means ÷ 2. Spelling: halve is the verb, half is the noun; «halves» is both the verb form (she halves) and the plural of half (two halves). Say «hahv» — the l is silent.