quarters - Master This Word
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quarters Word Meanings
- one-fourth of something
- a division of a city or town
- to provide lodging or shelter
quarters Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
quarters Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˈkwɔːtə/
US
/ˈkwɔrtər/
quarters Word Etymology
quarter = quart (one-fourth) + er (agent suffix). Originated from Latin 'quartus' (fourth) to Old French 'quart' then to English. Visualize a pizza divided into four equal slices, each slice representing a quarter.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I reach for the map and turn a corner, watching the lines shift until a quarter of the city feels right in my grip. I move the marker, adjust the scale, and keep the pace steady as the idea settles into my plan. The sense of one fourth grows from the touch of dividing space and time, and I let the choice emerge as I use it in real life—whether to set aside a quarter of funds, to split a street into quarters, or to offer a room for a night. It feels practical, like a small control that keeps daily life clear.
Real Context
Quarter is a versatile word with several related meanings. It can mean one-fourth of something, such as a quarter of a pie or a quarter of a dollar. It can describe a division within a city or town, for example a historical quarter or a tourist quarter. As a verb, to quarter means to provide lodging or shelter, often for soldiers or travelers. The phrase in the first quarter of the year highlights a time boundary, and two quarters make a half, while four quarters make a whole. A simple memory aid is to picture a pizza divided into four equal slices, each slice representing a quarter.
Usage Reminders
- • Use 'a quarter of' with a noun.
- • Remember quarter can mean a city area or a coin.
- • Time sense: 'the first quarter of the year' refers to three months.
- • Verb sense needs a direct object: 'to quarter someone/soldiers' = provide lodging.
- • Visualize four equal parts to remember one-fourth.
- • Distinguish plural 'quarters' for multiple parts or districts.
Common Misconceptions
- Confusing quarter with a coin (25-cent piece) versus a percentage of something.
- Thinking quarter always means exactly 25% rather than a fourth part.
- Using quarter as a verb in contexts that don’t involve lodging.
- Assuming quarter only means a city district and not a portion of a whole.
- Forgetting 'the first/second/third quarter' refers to time, not a location.
Thinking Differences
Quarter has several related senses in English; learners often mix the 'one-fourth' sense with the coin sense or with a city area. A learner might say 'a quarter of the city' to mean a coin. Also, because only one sense uses a verb, learners may overgeneralize 'to quarter' in unrelated contexts. Remember to use 'a quarter of' with a noun, and 'quarter' as a noun for one of four equal parts, or as a district. Time phrases like 'the first quarter' refer to a 3-month period.
Learning Tips
- Learn the four main senses: one-fourth, district, lodging, and time-related use.
- Always say 'a quarter of' + noun when you mean one-fourth.
- Separate time expressions ('first quarter') from place meanings.
- Use visuals (pizza slices) to memorize the one-fourth idea.
- Watch for the coin meaning (quarter) in American English.
- Practice with common phrases: first quarter, second quarter, quarters as districts.
Related Listening
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