Quarter

Quarter is a term with several related meanings. It can refer to one fourth of a whole, a division of time into three months, a portion of a building used as living space, or a district or area within a city. The word is also used to describe a specific currency unit, most notably the United States twenty-five cent coin.

In timekeeping and law, a calendar quarter is a three-month period. Commonly, quarters are labeled Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 and align with the fiscal year of organizations, though the exact starting month may vary. Financial reporting and budgeting often use quarterly cycles.

Currency: In the United States, a quarter is a 25-cent coin minted by the United States Mint. It bears the image of George Washington on the obverse and a variety of designs on the reverse. Since 1965 it has been composed of copper-nickel clad material, replacing earlier all-silver issues. The quarter is legal tender for amounts up to 25 cents.

Housing and accommodation: The term quarters is used in English to denote living space or accommodations, such as hotel quarters, military quarters, or officers’ quarters. It can also refer to a specific wing or part of a building or to a town district or neighborhood known informally as “the quarters.”

Etymology and usage: Quarter derives from Latin quartus, via Old French quart, meaning a fourth part. The sense expansions reflect its role as a division of space, time, or resources.