semi

Everyday

1. prefix «semi-»: half, or partly: semicircle (half a circle), semi-final, semi-detached, semicolon. tree →
2. noun (UK, Ireland, Australia, informal): A semi-detached house — a house joined to one other house on one side. tree →
3. noun (informal, sport): A semi-final. tree →
4. noun (US, Canada, Australia, informal): A semi-trailer truck, a very large lorry. tree →

In the lessons

In maths: semicircle = half a circle. In sport, «we're through to the semis» means the semi-finals (the round before the final). In UK house talk, people live in «a semi» or «a detached» or «a terrace». In grammar: the semicolon (;). Phrases: «semi-final», «semicircle», «semi-detached», «semi-skimmed milk».

Examples

• We live in a semi on the edge of town. tree →
• Our team reached the semis! tree →
• A semicircle is half of a circle. tree →
• The semi-final is next week. tree →
• A big semi rumbled down the highway. tree →
• Semi-skimmed milk has some of the fat taken out. tree →
• Use a semicolon to join two linked sentences. tree →

Note

As a word on its own, «semi» is informal and its meaning depends on the country (house in the UK, truck in North America). Pronounced SEM-ee (UK), also SEM-eye (US). Maths: semi- = ½; a semicircle's area is half the circle's area. Words with semi- are written with or without a hyphen: semicircle, semi-final.

In Jewish tradition

In maths: semicircle = half a circle. In sport, «we're through to the semis» means the semi-finals (the round before the final). In UK house talk, people live in «a semi» or «a detached» or «a terrace». In grammar: the semicolon (;). Phrases: «semi-final», «semicircle», «semi-detached», «semi-skimmed milk».

Note

As a word on its own, «semi» is informal and its meaning depends on the country (house in the UK, truck in North America). Pronounced SEM-ee (UK), also SEM-eye (US). Maths: semi- = ½; a semicircle's area is half the circle's area. Words with semi- are written with or without a hyphen: semicircle, semi-final.