semester

Everyday

1. A semester is one of the two halves of a school or college year. tree →
2. It is a period of learning, usually about four or five months long, with its own classes and tests. tree →

In the lessons

Used mostly in the USA, Canada and at universities everywhere: «first semester», «fall semester», «spring semester», «this semester». In the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand schools usually say «term» instead, and a year has three or four terms.

Examples

• The new semester starts next week. tree →
• We study the solar system in the first semester. tree →
• My sister is spending a semester at a college far away. tree →
• Our grades come home at the end of the semester. tree →
• How many classes are you taking this semester? tree →
• In Australia my cousin says «term» instead of «semester». tree →
• The spring semester ends with a big science fair. tree →

Note

Countable noun: «a semester, two semesters». Semester means half a year of school, so a school year has 2 semesters; a «term» can be a third or a quarter of the year. In maths problems, 2 semesters = 1 school year. Stress: se-MES-ter.