semester

n. countable

B1 Intermediate US //səˈmɛstɝ// UK //səmˈɛstɐ// se·mes·ter

n. one of the two periods that a school or university year is divided into. It usually lasts about 15 to 18 weeks.

n. one of two divisions of an academic year, typically lasting fifteen to eighteen weeks. Common in North American and European higher education systems.

SIMPLE

I have four difficult classes this semester.

CONTEXTUAL

The professor handed out the reading list on the first day of the autumn semester.

COMPLEX

Students who fail to maintain a minimum grade point average during the spring semester may find their financial aid packages under review by the university administration.

Origin

From German Semester, from New Latin sēmestris (“lasting six months”), from sex (“six”) + mēnsis (“month”).

Usage

Commonly used with the prepositions 'in' or 'during' ('in the first semester').