quarter-hour
MediumFormal, precise, technical, schedule-related.
Definition
Meaning
A period of 15 minutes.
A precise point of time marking 15 minutes past or before the hour; used in scheduling and time measurement.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Refers strictly to a duration or a specific minute mark. Can imply a unit of time measurement rather than a general short period.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use identically, though 'quarter of an hour' is a more common spoken alternative in both dialects. No major usage difference.
Connotations
Precision, punctuality, scheduling. Neutral connotation.
Frequency
Slightly more common in written schedules, timetables, and formal contexts than in casual conversation.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The meeting starts on the quarter-hour.Trains depart at quarter-hour intervals.We take readings every quarter-hour.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “On the quarter-hour: at exactly 15, 30, 45, or 00 minutes past the hour.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in meeting schedules and productivity tracking ('We bill in quarter-hour increments').
Academic
Used in scientific experiments for timed intervals ('Data was recorded at quarter-hour intervals').
Everyday
Less common; '15 minutes' is preferred. Might be used for bus/train schedules.
Technical
Common in broadcasting, transportation, and any field requiring precise time segmentation.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The lecture will commence on the quarter-hour.
- Parking is charged by the quarter-hour.
American English
- The news updates every quarter-hour.
- Calls are billed in quarter-hour units.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The break lasted a quarter-hour.
- Wait for a quarter-hour, please.
- The bus arrives at quarter-hour intervals.
- We have a meeting in a quarter-hour.
- The experiment required monitoring at each quarter-hour mark.
- Billing is done in precise quarter-hour increments.
- The syndicated programme is broadcast on the quarter-hour to maximise audience turnover.
- Tidal data is logged at quarter-hour intervals for predictive modelling.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a clock face: a 'quarter' of the circle (15 minutes) makes one 'quarter-hour'.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A RESOURCE MEASURED IN UNITS (like a pie divided into quarters).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Direct translation 'четверть часа' is correct but sounds slightly more formal than English 'quarter-hour'. In casual Russian, '15 минут' is more common.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'quarter-hour' to mean 'a quarter to an hour' (i.e., 45 minutes past). It always means 15 minutes, not a time 15 minutes *before* the next hour.
- Confusing 'quarter-hour' (15 min) with 'half-hour' (30 min).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'on the quarter-hour' specifically mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when used as a compound noun modifying another noun (e.g., quarter-hour segments) or as a standalone noun, it is typically hyphenated.
No. It only means a period of 15 minutes. For 45 minutes, you say 'three-quarters of an hour' or '45 minutes'.
Yes, slightly. 'Quarter-hour' is more precise and often used in scheduling, technical, or formal contexts. '15 minutes' is neutral and common in everyday speech.
They are synonymous in meaning (15 minutes). 'A quarter-hour' can sound slightly more formal or technical. 'Quarter of an hour' is the more common phrasing in general spoken English.