Afternoon is the period between noon and evening. The term lacks a precise definition because it was in use long before accurate time-pieces became widespread. Hence, words and phrases that refer to general periods in the day were more practical.
The term should not be confused with "after noon" (two separate words), which is a translation of the Latin post meridiem (p.m.), meaning a time of day between 12:00 midday and 12:00 midnight.
In Australia and New Zealand, "arvo" is slang for afternoon.
Famous quotes containing the word afternoon:
“The morning cup of coffee has an exhiliration about it which the cheering influence of the afternoon or evening cup of tea cannot be expected to reproduce.”
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–1894)
“I don’t really think that writers, even great writers, are prophets, or sages, or Messiah-like figures; writing is a lonely, sedentary occupation and a touch of megalomania can be comforting around five on a November afternoon when you haven’t seen anybody all day.”
—Angela Carter (1940–1992)
“The fifties—they seem to have taken place on a sunny afternoon that asked nothing of you except a drifting belief in the moment and its power to satisfy.”
—Elizabeth Hardwick (b. 1916)