quar·ter
ˈkwȯ(r)-tər 
also
ˈkȯ(r)-
1
: one of four equal parts into which something is divisible : a fourth part
in the top quarter of his class
2
: any of various units of capacity or weight equal to or derived from one fourth of some larger unit
3
: any of various units of length or area equal to one fourth of some larger unit
4
: the fourth part of a measure of time: such as
a
: one of a set of four 3-month divisions of a year
business was up during the third quarter
b
: a school term of about 12 weeks
c
: quarter hour
a quarter after three
5
a
: a coin worth a quarter of a dollar
b
: the sum of 25 cents
6
a
: one limb of a quadruped with the adjacent parts
especially
: one fourth part of the carcass of a slaughtered animal including a leg
b
7
a
: the region or direction lying under any of the four divisions of the horizon
b
: one of the four parts into which the horizon is divided or the cardinal point corresponding to it
c
: a compass point or direction other than the cardinal points
d(1)
: an unspecified person or group
financial help from many quarters—
Current Biography
Current Biography
(2)
: a point, direction, or place not definitely identified
the view to the rear quarter—Consumer Reports
Consumer ReportsThe oft-repeated Roman story is written in still legible characters in every quarter [=all over] of the Old World …—Henry David Thoreau
Henry David Thoreau8
a
: a division or district of a town or city
he describes the immigrant quarter—Alfred Kazin
Alfred Kazin
b
: the inhabitants of such a quarter
9
a
: an assigned station or post
b
quarters plural
: an assembly of a ship's company for ceremony, drill, or emergency
c
10
: merciful consideration of an opponent
a team that gave no quarter during the championship game
specifically
: the clemency of not killing a defeated enemy
11
a
: a fourth part of the moon's period
b
: a half-illuminated phase of the moon that occurs a quarter period after or before a new moon
12
: the side of a horse's hoof between the toe and the heel see hoof illustration
13
a
: any of the four parts into which a heraldic field is divided
b
: a bearing or charge occupying the first fourth part of a heraldic field
14
: the stern area of a ship's side
15
: one side of the upper of a shoe or boot from heel to vamp
16
: one of the four equal periods into which the playing time of some games is divided
quartered; quartering; quarters
1
a
: to cut or divide into four equal or nearly equal parts
quarter an apple
condemned to be hanged, drawn, and quartered
b
archaic
: divide
2
: to provide with lodging or shelter
3
: to crisscross (an area) in many directions
4
a
: to arrange or bear (different coats of arms) quarterly on one escutcheon
b
: to add (a coat of arms) to others on one escutcheon
c
: to divide (a shield) into distinct sections (as by stripes)
2
: to crisscross a district
3
: to change from one quarter to another
the moon quarters
4
: to strike on a ship's quarter
the wind was quartering
: consisting of or equal to a quarter
Examples of quarter in a Sentence
Noun
Cut the pie into quarters.
an inch and a quarter
a quarter of a cup of sugar
He was three quarters of an hour early.
Verb
The hunters quartered the deer.
We were quartered in log cabins at the camp.
Adjective
a quarter acre of land
They live less than a quarter mile from us.
Recent Examples on the Web
Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Through the third quarter of this year, legal sports betting generated $10 billion in revenue, up about 19% from the same period a year ago, according to the American Gaming Association.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
John Joseph Chin, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2025
The closest buck was quartering away to my right, running hard.
—Robert Merchant, Outdoor Life, 1 Oct. 2025
Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
The anthem has stood the test of time over the course of a quarter-century and feels embedded in the DNA of pop music with an earworm of a chorus.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for quarter
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
The Dodgers are looking to become baseball's first back-to-back champions in a quarter-century, as the Blue Jays hope to win their first World Series title since 1993.
—Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Through the third quarter of this year, legal sports betting generated $10 billion in revenue, up about 19% from the same period a year ago, according to the American Gaming Association.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
But there was no coup insofar as the military remained quartered rather than actively joining the protests or issuing a threat to compel the prime minister to resign.
—John Joseph Chin, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2025
The closest buck was quartering away to my right, running hard.
—Robert Merchant, Outdoor Life, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
New York advanced across three of its four playoff berths under Thibodeau, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in a quarter-century just this past spring.
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
The anthem has stood the test of time over the course of a quarter-century and feels embedded in the DNA of pop music with an earworm of a chorus.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for quarter
Cite this Entry
“Quarter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quarter. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
quarter
1 of 3 noun
quar·ter
ˈkwȯ(r)t-ər
1
: one of four equal parts
2
: a unit (as of weight or length) that equals one fourth of some larger unit
3
a
: any of four 3-month divisions of a year
b
: a school term of about 12 weeks
c
: a coin worth a fourth of a dollar
d
: the sum of 25 cents
e
: one fourth part of a slaughtered animal including a leg
a quarter of beef
f
: a fourth part of the moon's period
a moon in its first quarter
g
: one of the four equal parts into which the playing time of some games is divided
4
: someone or something (as a place, direction, or group) not named
complaints came from all quarters
5
a
: a particular division or district of a city
b
: an assigned station especially of a member of a crew
call to quarters
c
plural
: the place where one lives : lodging
6
: mercy sense 1a
show no quarter to the enemy
quarter
2 of 3 verb1
a
: to divide into four equal parts
b
: to separate into parts
peel and quarter an orange
2
: to provide with lodging or shelter
quarter
3 of 3 adjective
: consisting of or equal to a quarter
Etymology
Noun
Middle English quarter "a fourth part," from early French quarter (same meaning), derived from Latin quartus "a fourth"
Medical Definition
quarter
noun
quar·ter
ˈkwȯ(r)t-ər
1
: one limb of a quadruped with the adjacent parts
2
: one teat together with the part of a cow's udder that it drains
3
: the side of a horse's hoof between the toe and the heel
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