each of four equal or corresponding parts into which something is or can be divided 四分之一 she cut each apple into quarters. 她把每个苹果切成四半。 a page and a quarter. 11/4 页。 a quarter of a mile. 1/4 英里。 ■a period of three months regarded as one fourth of a year, used especially in reference to financial transactions such as the payment of bills or a company's earnings (尤指财务往来)季,季度,三个月 the payment for each quarter's electricity is made in the next quarter. 每个季度的电费在下一个季度支付。 ■a period of fifteen minutes or a point of time marking the transition from one fifteen-minute period to the next 一刻钟,十五分钟 he sat with his pint until a quarter past nine. 他拿着一品脱啤酒一直坐到9点1刻。 ■a coin representing 25 cents, a quarter of a US or Canadian dollar (美国或加拿大的)二十五分硬币 ■each of the four parts into which an animal's or bird's carcass may be divided, each including a leg or wing (包括一条腿或一个翅膀的)四分之一畜体(或鸟身) ■(quarters)the haunches or hindquarters of a horse (马的)腰腿,臀部及后腿 ■one fourth of a lunar month 太阳月的四分之一 ■(in basketball, American football, and Australian Rules) each of four equal periods into which a game is divided (篮球、美式橄榄球和澳式橄榄球比赛的)一节,一局 ■(chiefly US)one of four terms into which a school or university year may be divided (主美)学季,四分之一学年
one fourth of a measure of weight, in particular 四分之一重量,尤指 ■one fourth of a pound weight (avoirdupois, equal to 4 ounces) 四分之一磅(常衡等于四盎司) ■one fourth of a hundredweight (Brit. 28 lb or US 25 lb) 四分之一英担(英国为28磅,美国为25磅) ■(Brit.)a grain measure equivalent to 8 bushels (英)八蒲式耳谷量
[usu. with adj. or noun]a part of a town or city having a specific character or use (城镇有独特风格或用途的)部分,一角 it is a beautiful port city with a fascinating medieval quarter. 那是一个美丽的港口城市,其中一角有迷人的中世纪色彩。
the direction of one of the points of the compass, especially as a direction from which the wind blows (罗盘上四个点之一所指的)方向,方位;(尤指)风向 ■a particular but unspecified person, group of people, or area 某人;某团体;某区域 we have just had help from an unexpected quarter. 我们刚刚意外地得到一个人的帮助。 ■either side of a ship aft of the beam 船侧后部,船舷后部 he trained his glasses over the starboard quarter. 他把望远镜对准了船右舷后部。
(quarters)rooms or lodgings, especially those allocated to servicemen or to staff in domestic service 住处;营房,营舍 they lived in RAF married quarters. 他们住在皇家空军的已婚军人营房。
[mass noun]pity or mercy shown towards an enemy or opponent who is in one's power (对降敌或对手的)同情,怜悯;宽恕,宽容 the riot squad gave no quarter. 防暴警察毫不留情。
(Heraldry)each of four or more roughly equal divisions of a shield separated by vertical and horizontal lines (纹章)盾的四分之一(或更小的部分) ■a square charge which covers the top left (dexter chief) quarter of the field (盾的)上部侧面方形图记
verb [with obj.]
divide into four equal or corresponding parts 将…四等分,将…分为四部分 peel and quarter the bananas. 把香蕉去皮后分成四块。 ■(historical)cut (the body of an executed person) into four parts (史)把(死刑者)肢解成四部分 the plotters were hanged, drawn, and quartered. 阴谋者被处以绞刑并剖尸裂肢。 ■cut (a log) into quarters, and these into planks so as to show the grain well (为突出纹理)径锯,四分周锯割,四开(圆木)
(be quartered)[with adverbial of place]be stationed or lodged in a specified place 驻扎;住宿;寄宿 many were quartered in tents. 许多人住在帐篷里。 ■(quarter someone on)impose someone on (another person) as a lodger 强行让(某人)到(他人家里)做房客 you would have had her quartered on you forever. 你本来会让她永远住在你那里的。
range over or traverse (an area) in every direction 在(某处)来回移动(或四处走动) we watched a pair of kingfishers quartering the river looking for minnows. 我们看到一对翠鸟在河面上飞来飞去,寻找小鱼。 ■[no obj., with adverbial of direction]move at an angle; go in a diagonal or zigzag direction (成一定角度)移动;斜向(或之字形)行进 his young dog quartered back and forth in quick turns. 他的小狗忽左忽右来回奔跑。
(Heraldry)display (different coats of arms) in quarters of a shield, especially to show arms inherited from heiresses who have married into the bearer's family (纹章)展示,炫耀(盾的四分之一部位上的不同纹章) Edward III quartered the French royal arms with his own. 爱德华三世将几枚法国皇家纹章和他自己的纹章放在盾的四个角上展示。 ■divide (a shield) into four or more parts by vertical and horizontal lines 将(盾)纵横划为四(或更多)部分
语源
Middle English: from Old French quartier, from Latin quartarius 'fourth part of a measure', from quartus 'fourth', from quattuor 'four'