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)
“We say that the hour of death cannot be forecast, but when we say this we imagine that hour as placed in an obscure and distant future. It never occurs to us that it has any connection with the day already begun or that death could arrive this same afternoon, this afternoon which is so certain and which has every hour filled in advance.”
—Marcel Proust (1871–1922)
“In my afternoon walk I would fain forget all my morning occupations and my obligations to society.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)