To halve something means to divide it into two equal parts. If you halve an apple, you cut it so each piece is the same size. If you halve your homework time by working more efficiently, you reduce it from two hours to one hour.

The word comes from “half,” and it works exactly how it sounds: halving always creates two equal portions. When a recipe says to halve the ingredients, you use half as much of everything. If you and a friend agree to halve the cost of a birthday present, you each pay exactly 50%.

In math class, halving is the same as dividing by two or multiplying by one-half. If you halve 24, you get 12. If you halve that result, you get 6.

Notice that halving requires equality between the parts. If you cut a sandwich into two pieces but one piece is bigger, you didn't really halve it. You just cut it into two pieces. True halving means both portions are identical in size, amount, or value.