semi

Thân thiện

A large semi-truck travels down a wide highway.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A large trailer truck: A semi is a large commercial truck consisting of a powered tractor unit pulling a separate, unpowered trailer. The trailer often has wheels only at the rear, with the front supported by the tractor.
   • A trailer: More specifically, the unpowered trailer portion of such a vehicle.
   • A sports competition: In an elimination tournament (like in sports), a semi is one of the two matches or rounds that occur just before the final championship round.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Truck):
  • The highway was closed after an accident involving a semi.
  • He drives a semi across the country to deliver goods.
• Noun (Trailer):
  • They loaded the cargo into the semi.
• Noun (Sports):
  • Our team has advanced to the semi.
  • The two winners of the semi-finals will compete for the championship.

Advanced Usage

• "semi-final": The round of a competition immediately preceding the final. While "semi-final" is a compound term, the word "semi" is often used informally to refer to this stage.
  • They played incredibly well to reach the semi. (Here, "semi" is a shortened form of "semi-final".)

Variants and Related Words

• Semi-trailer (n): The unpowered trailer portion of an articulated truck.
• Semi-truck (n): Another common term for the entire tractor-trailer combination.
• Semifinal (n): The penultimate round in a knockout tournament.
• Semifinalist (n): A competitor or team that participates in a semifinal.

Synonyms

• Tractor-trailer: A synonym for the truck.
• Big rig: An informal synonym for the truck.
• 18-wheeler: An informal synonym for the truck, referring to the total number of wheels.
• Penultimate round: A more formal term for the sports competition stage.

Notes on Meaning

The core meaning of "semi-" as a prefix is "half" or "partly." The noun "semi" derives from this, implying a vehicle that is partly supported (the trailer by the tractor) or a competition that is partly towards the final (not the first round, not the last). It is primarily used in specific, informal contexts related to transportation and sports.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a trailer having wheels only in the rear; the front is supported by the towing vehicle
2. a truck consisting of a tractor and trailer together
3. one of the two competitions in the next to the last round of an elimination tournament

Từ đồng nghĩa

• semitrailer
• trailer truck
• tractor trailer
• trucking rig
• rig
• articulated lorry
• semifinal