half note

noun

A musical note that is two beats long, which is half the length of a semibreve and equal in length to two crotchets; a minim.

Similar
minim
OriginGerman halbe Note →
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Meanings

nounhalf note (plural half notes)

plural half notes

  1. CanadaUSentertainmentA musical note that is two beats long, which is half the length of a semibreve and equal in length to two crotchets; a minim.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna musical note having the time value of half a whole note

Similar
minim
Broader
notemusical notetone
Also see
minim

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Germanhalbe Note
  2. Englishhalf note

Calque of German halbe Note.

More words from German

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

half note. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/half%20note

MLA

“half note.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/half%20note. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “half note,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/half%20note.

Source: half note on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.