mid-afternoon
UK: ˌmɪd ɑːfˈtənuːn | US: ˌmɪd æfˈtɚnuːn
n. the period of time around the middle of the afternoon, typically between 2 PM and 4 PM.
The word "mid-afternoon" is a compound formed by combining "mid," derived from Old English "mid" (meaning "middle"), and "afternoon," which itself comes from "after" + "noon." "Noon" originates from Latin "nona hora" (the ninth hour of daylight). Over time, "noon" shifted to mean midday (12 PM), and "afternoon" logically followed as the time thereafter. "Mid-afternoon" thus pinpoints the middle of this post-noon period, reflecting a straightforward temporal division.
She scheduled the meeting for mid-afternoon to avoid the lunch rush.
The sun was at its peak in the mid-afternoon sky.
He usually takes a short nap during mid-afternoon.
The temperature drops slightly by mid-afternoon.
Mid-afternoon is the best time to water the plants in summer.