semi
English meaning: Semi
Definition
A semi-detached house.
Example
“They bought a modest semi on a quiet suburban street.”
Another example: “The truck driver parked his semi at the roadside diner.”
Usage — When, Where & How
Informal prefix-turned-noun; British English uses 'semi' for a semi-detached house, and both varieties use it for a semifinal ('reach the semis') and (US) for a semi-trailer truck ('an 18-wheeler semi'). Context and region determine meaning. Casual in register.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
A shortening of words beginning with the prefix 'semi-' (from Latin 'semi-', half); the noun uses are 20th-century colloquialisms.
Synonyms
- similar
- fractional
- tractor trailer
- semifinal
- semitrailer
- articulated lorry
- trailer truck
Related Words
- arid
- sage
- final
- precious
- finalist
- replay
- automatic
- detached
- preliminary
- loser
Common Collocations
- semi-detached semi
- reach the semis
- semi final
- a three-bed semi
- drive a semi
- cup semi
Word Forms
semi (n); semis (pl)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
CC-licensed · free to useVideo
Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B