1quar·ter 
/ˈkwoɚtɚ/ noun
plural quar·ters /ˈkwoɚtɚ/ noun 1 [count] : one of four equal parts of something
▪ Cut the pie into quarters. ▪ A quarter [=fourth] of the class voted “no.” 2 [count] : a unit of something (such as weight or length) that equals one fourth of some larger unit
▪ an inch and a quarter ▪ a quarter of a cup of sugar ▪ It happened three quarters of a century ago. [=75 years ago] 3 [count] : one of four divisions of an hour : a period of 15 minutes
▪ He was three quarters of an hour early. ▪ It is now (a) quarter to four. = (US) It is now (a) quarter of four. [=it is 15 minutes before four o'clock] ▪ The alarm went off at (a) quarter past six. = (US) The alarm went off at (a) quarter after six. [=15 minutes after six o'clock] 4 [count] : one of four divisions of a year : a period of three months
▪ The company's profits rose in the second quarter. ▪ (Brit) quarter day [=the first day of a financial quarter when payments are due] 5 [count] : one of four divisions of a school term usually lasting about 12 weeks
▪ She received her grades for the first quarter. — compare semester, term, trimester 6 [count] : one of the four equal parts of the playing time of a game (such as basketball or American football)
▪ There are two minutes left in the third quarter. ▪ The final quarter of the game was very exciting. 7 [count] : a coin of the United States and Canada that is worth 25 cents
▪ Do you have a quarter for the parking meter? ; also : the sum of 25 cents
▪ The candy costs a quarter. 8 [count] : a person or group of people or an area in which people live
▪ Concern has been expressed in many quarters. [=many people have expressed concern] ▪ The move was met with dismay in this quarter. ▪ My brother and I have not spoken in years so I expect no help from that quarter. [=I expect no help from my brother] ▪ Complaints came from all quarters. [=from many people or places] 9 [count] : a part or area of a city
▪ She lives in the historic quarter. [=district] 10 quarters [plural] : the place where someone lives
▪ Our living quarters were very comfortable. ▪ soldiers'/servants' quarters 11 [count] : one of the two times during a month when a quarter of the moon's surface can be seen
▪ The moon was in its/the first quarter. ▪ a quarter moon
▪ Cut the pie into quarters. ▪ A quarter [=fourth] of the class voted “no.”
▪ an inch and a quarter ▪ a quarter of a cup of sugar ▪ It happened three quarters of a century ago. [=75 years ago]
▪ He was three quarters of an hour early. ▪ It is now (a) quarter to four. = (US) It is now (a) quarter of four. [=it is 15 minutes before four o'clock] ▪ The alarm went off at (a) quarter past six. = (US) The alarm went off at (a) quarter after six. [=15 minutes after six o'clock]
▪ The company's profits rose in the second quarter. ▪ (Brit) quarter day [=the first day of a financial quarter when payments are due]
▪ She received her grades for the first quarter. — compare semester, term, trimester
▪ There are two minutes left in the third quarter. ▪ The final quarter of the game was very exciting.
▪ Do you have a quarter for the parking meter? ; also : the sum of 25 cents
▪ The candy costs a quarter.
▪ Concern has been expressed in many quarters. [=many people have expressed concern] ▪ The move was met with dismay in this quarter. ▪ My brother and I have not spoken in years so I expect no help from that quarter. [=I expect no help from my brother] ▪ Complaints came from all quarters. [=from many people or places]
▪ She lives in the historic quarter. [=district]
▪ Our living quarters were very comfortable. ▪ soldiers'/servants' quarters
▪ The moon was in its/the first quarter. ▪ a quarter moon
at/in close quarters
: close together usually in a very small space
▪ The sailors were living in close quarters. ▪ We could observe the behavior of all the animals at close quarters. [=from a short distance]
▪ The sailors were living in close quarters. ▪ We could observe the behavior of all the animals at close quarters. [=from a short distance]
no quarter
literary : no pity or mercy — used to say that an enemy, opponent, etc., is treated in a very harsh way ▪ The soldiers showed/gave no quarter to the enemy. ▪ They received no quarter or sympathy.
