English Words Starting With H

• half-smile

  nounC1
  /ˌhɑːf ˈsmaɪl/A slight, partial, or incomplete smile.
• half-sole

  nounverbC2
  /ˌhɑːf ˈsəʊl/A shoe repair piece covering the front (ball and toe) area of a sole, not the heel.
• half-staff

  nounlow
  /ˌhɑːf ˈstɑːf/The position of a flag lowered partway down a flagpole as a sign of mourning or distress.
• half-stuff

  nounRare / Historical Technical
  /ˌhɑːf ˈstʌf/A textile industry term for jute or hemp fibers that have been partially processed through softening and oiling but are not yet fully prepared for spinning into yarn.
• half-time

  nounB1
  /ˌhɑːfˈtaɪm/The point or interval midway through a game, performance, or event, often used for a break, assessment, or strategic adjustment.
• half-title

  nounC2
  /ˌhɑːf ˈtaɪtl/A page before the title page of a book containing only the book's main title, often on the right-hand side (recto).
• half-track

  nounLow
  /ˌhɑːfˈtræk/A motor vehicle propelled by wheels at the front and continuous tracks at the rear, combining road and cross-country mobility.
• half-truth

  nounB2
  /ˌhɑːf ˈtruːθ/A statement that is partly true but leaves out or distorts important information.
• half-turn

  nounC2 (Proficient User)
  /ˌhɑːf ˈtɜːn/A rotation of 180 degrees, or halfway around a full circle.
• half-turning

  nounC1 (Low)
  /ˌhɑːf ˈtɜːnɪŋ/A turn or rotation of exactly 180 degrees.
• half-wave plate

  nounLow
  /ˌhɑːf.weɪv ˈpleɪt/An optical device that alters the polarization of light by delaying one polarization component by half a wavelength relative to the perpendicular component.
• half-wave rectifier

  nounC1/C2 (Specialized Technical)
  /ˌhɑːf weɪv ˈrɛktɪfaɪə/An electrical circuit that converts alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) by allowing only one half of the AC waveform to pass.
• half-wit

  nounMedium-Low (common in informal/colloquial use, but not in formal contexts)
  /ˈhɑːf wɪt/A person who is stupid or foolish.
• half-year

  nounB2
  /ˌhɑːf ˈjɪə/A period of six months.
• halfback

  nounLow
  /ˈhɑːf.bæk/A player in rugby or American football positioned between the forwards and the back line.
• halfbeak

  nounLow
  /ˈhɑːf.biːk/A small, surface-dwelling marine or freshwater fish characterized by an elongated lower jaw that protrudes much farther than the upper jaw.
• halfies

  plural-nounVery Low
  /ˈhɑːfiz/A colloquial term for sharing something equally between two people.
• halfling

  adjectivenounC2
  /ˈhɑːf.lɪŋ/A fictional humanoid creature, typically smaller than a human and often portrayed with pointed ears, originating in fantasy literature and games.
• halfmoon

  nounLow
  /ˌhɑːfˈmuːn/The moon when exactly half of its visible surface is illuminated, appearing as a semicircle.
• halfpenny

  adjectivenounLow
  /ˈheɪp(ə)ni/A former British coin or unit of value equal to half a penny.

Showing 461–480 of 5990 words.