half-moon

noun

ˈhaf-ˌmün How to pronounce half-moon (audio)
ˈhäf-
1
: the moon when half its disk appears illuminated
2
: something shaped like a crescent
3
: the lunule of a fingernail
half-moon adjective

Examples of half-moon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Carefully fold the dough in half, pressing the edges together to make a half-moon shape. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2023 Pilates exercise machines took up space in the main room beneath a stained glass skylight that showed half-moons smoking cigars. Micaela MacAgnone, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2023 Unlike those dense cubes or half-moons from the freezer, portable ice makers typically make the perfect, crunchy ice or have the capacity to churn out ice cubes in different sizes within minutes. Stacey Ritzen, Popular Science, 19 July 2023 Since this was a baby or micro French manicure, the colorful tips were super thin, leaving only a tiny half-moon of pastel color. Gabi Thorne, Allure, 13 July 2023 Per the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the cannon is decorated with images of a sun, a half-moon and a Sinhalese lion—symbols of the King of Kandy. Teresa Nowakowski, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 July 2023 The mat is available in two different sizes, as well as a half-moon version. Lee Alisha Williams, Southern Living, 6 July 2023 First Quarter: The third moon phase looks like a half-moon and represents a time of perseverance and motivation, Pelinku explains. Leah Campano, Seventeen, 29 June 2023 Waxing Gibbous: In the fourth phase, the moon is just between a half-moon and full moon. Leah Campano, Seventeen, 29 June 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'half-moon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of half-moon was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near half-moon

Cite this Entry

“Half-moon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/half-moon. Accessed 22 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

half-moon

noun
-ˌmün
: the moon when half its disk appears lighted

Medical Definition

half-moon

noun

More from Merriam-Webster on half-moon

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