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semester

noun se·mes·ter \sə-ˈmes-tər\

: one of two usually 18-week periods that make up an academic year at a school or college

Full Definition of SEMESTER

1
:  either of the two usually 18-week periods of instruction into which an academic year is often divided
2
:  a period of six months
— se·mes·tral \-trəl\ or se·mes·tri·al \-trē-əl\ adjective
See semester defined for English-language learners
See semester defined for kids
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Origin of SEMESTER

German, from Latin semestris half-yearly, from sex six + mensis month — more at six, moon
First Known Use: 1827

Other Education Terms

baccalaureate, colloquium, corequisite, dissertation, monograph, pedant, practicum, survey course, thesis

Rhymes with SEMESTER

arrester, attester, contester, detester, digester, infester, investor, Manchester, molester, northwester, requester, Rochester, sequester, southwester, sou'wester, suggester, trimester
SEMESTER Defined for Kids

semester

noun se·mes·ter \sə-ˈme-stər\

Definition of SEMESTER for Kids

:  either of two terms that make up a school year

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2 ENTRIES FOUND:
  1. semester
  2. semester hour
Next Word in the Dictionary: semester hourPrevious Word in the Dictionary: SemeostomaAll Words Near: semester
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