crescent

¹cres·cent

noun \ˈkre-s^ənt\

Definition of CRESCENT

1

a : the moon at any stage between new moon and first quarter and between last quarter and the succeeding new moon when less than half of the illuminated hemisphere is visible b : the figure of the moon at such a stage defined by a convex and a concave edge

2

: something shaped like a crescent

— cres·cen·tic \kre-ˈsen-tik, krə-\ adjective

Origin of CRESCENT

Middle English cressant, from Anglo-French, from present participle of crestre to grow, increase, from Latin crescere; akin to Old High German hirsi millet, Lithuanian šerti to feed, Greek koros boy

First Known Use: 15th century

Other Astronomy Terms

gibbous, nadir, nebulous, penumbra, retrograde, sidereal, syzygy, wane, wax, zenith