# eighth

/ˈeɪtθ/ (US) · /ˈeɪtθ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/eighth
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. position in a sequence

numeral · CEFR A2

coming after the seventh and before the ninth.

For teachers: the ordinal number matching the cardinal number eight in a sequence.

- This is the eighth time I have tried to call the bank today.
- The eighth chapter provides a comprehensive summary of the research findings, bridging the gap between the initial hypothesis and the final data analysis.

### 2. a fraction

noun · CEFR B1

one of eight equal parts of a whole.

For teachers: one of eight equal parts into which something is or may be divided.

- He cut the pizza into slices, and I ate an eighth of it.
- The carpenter carefully measured an eighth of an inch to ensure the cabinet door would close perfectly against the frame.

### 3. music interval

noun · CEFR B2

the distance between one musical note and the next note with the same name.

For teachers: an interval of an octave, representing the distance between one musical pitch and another with double its frequency.

- The singer struggled to reach the high note an eighth above the melody.
- The composition requires the pianist to play a series of rapid eighths, demanding significant finger strength and precise timing.

### 4. drug measurement

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang

a small amount of a drug, usually weighing about 3.5 grams.

For teachers: a unit of measurement for illicit drugs, specifically one-eighth of an ounce.

- He was arrested for carrying an eighth of cannabis in his pocket.
- The dealer was known for selling an eighth at a higher price than the market average, claiming his product was of superior quality.

### 5. to divide by eight

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to divide something into eight parts.

For teachers: to divide a quantity or object by eight. Transitive use.

- The total cost was eighthed so that each partner paid an equal share.
- In this specific calculation, the initial value must be eighthed before the final coefficient is applied to the result.

## Examples

- He finished in eighth place in the race.
- The eighth chapter of the book provides a detailed summary of the main characters' motivations.
- By the eighth day of the expedition, the team had exhausted their primary supplies and were forced to rely on the emergency rations they had cached earlier.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.