Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Fifteen minutes.
  • noun The point on a clock's face marking either 15 minutes after or 15 minutes before an hour.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a quarter of an hour

Etymologies

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Examples

  • But in the last quarter-hour his production achieves a magical simplicity that induces a sense of awe and wonder.

    The Comedy of Errors, Olivier, London | Theatre review 2011

  • On the quarter-hour Leo Messi had produced an assist that was almost a carbon copy of the one provided for David Villa when Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 5-0 last November.

    Cesc Fábregas starts with a night to remember at Barcelona 2011

  • The doorbell rang at exactly 8:15— a rather amateurish version of“fashionably late,” thought Marilyn, who, whenshewas a guest, made it a point to show up to these sorts of evenings at 8:12 or 8:18 or 8:27 but never exactly on the so-obviously-calculated quarter-hour.

    Fascination Susan Kleinman 2011

  • For all their huff and puff, Manchester United haven't done much in the opening minutes of the final quarter-hour and that foul seems to have been borne of frustration.

    Manchester United v Crystal Palace 2011

  • With each quarter-hour chime, I prayed, “Maybe a baby next year, Lord, maybe a baby next year.”

    Chicken Soup for the Soul: New Moms Jack Canfield 2011

  • A crucial question, inimical to my quality of life, at least for the next quarter-hour, confronted me: What street, or streets, to cut east on?

    Grateful for Our Grid Ralph Gardner Jr. 2012

  • Until the last quarter-hour Blackburn played the more composed football and were usually quicker to the ball when it was not being given to them by the opposition's lackadaisical passing.

    West Ham left with sinking feeling despite avoiding Blackburn defeat 2011

  • With each quarter-hour chime, I prayed, “Maybe a baby next year, Lord, maybe a baby next year.”

    Chicken Soup for the Soul: New Moms Jack Canfield 2011

  • Getting your AARP card and a gout diagnosis—that is one bad quarter-hour.

    Scenes From a Marriage Peter Jeffrey 2011

  • Now all it needs is a collection of animatronic dolls singing "It's A Small World After All," over and over on the quarter-hour.

    Never mind (Jack Bog's Blog) 2009

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