This is the 15129th most frequent Russian word.
полминуты
Half a minute.
Here, 'полминуты' is used to describe a short duration of time to emphasize the brevity of the action.
Мы подождали полминуты и пошли дальше.
We waited for half a minute and went further.
In this sentence, 'полминуты' is employed to underscore the efficiency and quickness of the cooking process.
Приготовление этого блюда занимает всего полминуты.
Preparing this dish takes only half a minute.
Here 'полминуты' signifies a modest amount of time taken for contemplation, adding a dramatic pause in the narrative.