crescent

noun cres·cent \ ˈkre-sᵊnt \

Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

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 (see convex 1a) and a concave (see ¹concave 2) edge

2 : something shaped like a crescent

The crescent is used as the symbol of Islam.

—

crescentic

play \kre-ˈsen-tik, krə-\ adjective

See crescent defined for English-language learners

See crescent defined for kids

crescent was our Word of the Day on 06/26/2009. Hear the podcast!

Recent Examples of crescent from the Web

The Silk Road’s Rayy bowl Excavating at Rayy, near Tehran, in the 1930s, Penn archaeologists uncovered a 12th or 13th century stonepaste bowl featuring crescent moons and a fearsome harpy.

— stephan salisbury, Philly.com, "Penn Museum's Middle East Galleries reopen: Behold, the queen's beer straw," 19 Apr. 2018
The foundation plans to build a 35-foot-tall building with a flattened bronze dome topped with a crescent moon and a 75-foot-tall decorative minaret at 141st Street and Shelborne Road.

— chris sikich, Indianapolis Star, "Lawsuit: Brainard stacked the deck on Carmel mosque vote," 10 Apr. 2018
The soup crackers are shaped like crescent moons, a charming touch that makes everyone smile.

— devra first, BostonGlobe.com, "Dinner in an almost classical mode, at Mooncusser Fish House," 9 Apr. 2018
Curve each wedge slightly to form a crescent shape.

— judy buchenot, Naperville Sun, "Suburban Cooks: Remembering mom through recipes, traditions and food stories," 9 Apr. 2018
Dip 8 uncut cookies, 1 at a time, in orange frosting, rocking cookie forward and back, to create an orange crescent moon, letting excess frosting drip back into bowl.

— Woman's Day, "Bats Across the Moon," 1 Feb. 2012
Though its school symbol is the crescent, Cabrini High School's Night of Green of Gold had an auspicious full moon for its annual soiree on March 3.

— sue strachan, NOLA.com, "Cabrini High School's Night of Green and Gold gathers alumnae and supporters," 27 Mar. 2018
Cut off 1-inch-thick piece dough and roll into 3 1⁄2-inch log with tapered ends, then bend into crescent shape.

— the good housekeeping test kitchen, Good Housekeeping, "Walnut Crescent Cookies," 20 Nov. 2017
The red blood cells, although deformed, don’t take the characteristic crescent shape found in sickle cell disease.

— bradley j. fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "New and common malaria resistance trait identified in Scripps Research-led study," 22 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'crescent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology 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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

Other Astronomy Terms

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

crescent

adjective

Definition of crescent

: marked by an increase : increasing

"My powers are crescent … "
—William Shakespeare

Did You Know?

You probably know "crescent" as the shape of a moon that is less than half-illuminated. These days, "crescent" is generally used of either a waxing or waning moon, but that wasn't always the case. Originally, it referred only to the increasing illumination phase that immediately follows the new moon. That original meaning nicely reflects the meaning of the word's Latin ancestor crescere, which means "to grow." The meaning of "crescere" also shines through when we use "crescent" as an adjective meaning "increasing" or "growing." English speakers have been using "crescent" in this way since the 16th century.

Origin and Etymology of crescent

Latin crescent-, crescens, present participle of crescere — see ¹crescent

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1574

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Crescent

trademark Cres·cent \ ˈkre-sᵊnt \

Definition of Crescent

—used for an adjustable open-end wrench

CRESCENT Defined for English Language Learners

crescent

noun

Definition of crescent for English Language Learners

: the shape of the visible part of the moon when it is less than half full
: a shape that is curved, wide at its center, and pointed at its two ends like a crescent moon

CRESCENT Defined for Kids

crescent

noun cres·cent \ ˈkre-sᵊnt \

Definition of crescent for Students

1 : the shape of the visible part of the moon when it is less than half full

2 : something shaped like a crescent moon

crescent

adjective

Definition of crescent for Students

: shaped like the crescent moon

crescent rolls

Medical Dictionary

crescent

noun cres·cent \ ˈkres-ᵊnt \

medical Definition of crescent

1 : a crescent-shaped anatomical structure or section

2 : the gametocyte of the falciparum malaria parasite that is shaped like a crescent and constitutes a distinguishing character of malignant tertian malaria