half-length

(hăf′lĕngkth′, -lĕngth′, lĕnth′, häf′-)

A portrait that shows only the upper half and hands of a person.

adj.

1. Of or relating to a half-length portrait.

2. Of half the full length.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

half-length

adj

1. (Art Terms) (of a portrait) showing only the body from the waist up and including the hands

2. of half the entire or original length

(Art Terms) a half-length portrait

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

half′-length`

1. something that is only half a full length or height, esp. a portrait of the upper half of the body, including the hands.

adj.

2. of half the complete length or height.

[1690–1700]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	half-length - a portrait showing the body from only the waist up portrait, portrayal - any likeness of a person, in any medium; "the photographer made excellent portraits"
Adj.	1.	half-length - representing only the upper half of the body; "a half-length portrait" short, little - low in stature; not tall; "he was short and stocky"; "short in stature"; "a short smokestack"; "a little man"
	2.	half-length - abridged to half its original length abridged - (used of texts) shortened by condensing or rewriting; "an abridged version"

Translations

half-length

[ˈhɑːfˈleŋθ] ADJ → de medio cuerpo

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

There was not much to amuse in the room; of which the most attractive feature was, a half-length portrait in oil, of Mr Mantalini, whom the artist had depicted scratching his head in an easy manner, and thus displaying to advantage a diamond ring, the gift of Madame Mantalini before her marriage.

View in context

It was a half-length figure of a gentleman in a rich but very old-fashioned dress of embroidered velvet, with a broad ruff and a beard, and wearing a hat, the brim of which overshadowed his forehead.

View in context

Here,"--pointing to a staring, half-length figure, in a white wig and scarlet coat,--"here is an excellent model, the likeness of our gracious king.

View in context

Half-length portraits in crayons abounded all through the house, but were so dispersed that I found the brother of a youthful officer of mine in the china-closet and the grey old age of my pretty young bride, with a flower in her bodice, in the breakfast-room.

View in context

To give the greater force to his words, he checked himself in an involuntary imitation of two half-length stretching and yawning figures on the mantel-shelf, who were represented as in one eternal state of weariness from the waist upwards; and hummed a fragment of a song.

View in context

Last month she did little wrong in a leg of this series at Leopardstown, making the running and kicking clear early in the straight before being overhauled late on and beaten a half-length by Brunelle.

TREES LOOKS A CUT ABOVE

Harry Bentley managed to take Qate'e to a fighting half-length triumph in the Local Thoroughbred Graduation Plate against Dhergham Bu Thaila.

Opera Baron grabs Al Huwaila Cup

While the opposition may not have been all that hot, there could be no arguing with his half-length success as not only did he Y=u the start, but he also ran green in front.

Monein the pick

The 9-1 chance hit the front a furlong out and was never going to be caught, going on to deny Presumptive by two and a half lengths, with Binanti, a winner here last weekend, a further half-length away in third.

New trainer Eddery enjoys his first winner

Ask The Umpire returned to the larger obstacles at Lingfield earlier this month and was doing all of his best work in the closing stages, but was unable to catch the half-length winner, Lanmire Tower.

Racing: Umpire ready to strike back