quarters
KWOR-terz
/ˈkwɔːrtərz/
Rooms or lodgings provided for living in, especially for military personnel, servants, or students.
Plural noun when referring to living spaces; carries military or historic housing connotations.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'quartus' (fourth). In medieval military encampments, towns were divided into four distinct quadrants or 'quarters', each assigned to specific soldier regiments for housing.
Word relationships
- lodgings: 'Lodgings' refers broadly to rented rooms, whereas 'quarters' implies assigned official accommodation.
- barracks: 'Barracks' strictly applies to military housing structures.
Commonly confused with
- quarter: 'Quarter' (singular) means one fourth (25%) or a coin, whereas 'quarters' (plural) refers to living accommodations.
Collocations
- living quarters
- cramped quarters
- residential quarters
- quarters assignment
Idioms & expressions
- close quarters (crowded conditions)
Example sentences
- "The living quarters in the old quadrangle were built in the nineteenth century." Historical university tour
- "Students were requested to return to their residential quarters until the storm passed." Campus emergency protocol
Memory hook
Four quarters make a whole building where soldiers/students stay. Quarters = Assigned living rooms.
When not to use
Do not use singular 'quarter' to mean a house; singular 'quarter' means 1/4th or a district.
Fun facts
- The Third Amendment to the US Constitution specifically forbids forcing citizens to quarter soldiers in private homes during peacetime.
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.