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
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.
Copy Citation
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
Britannica English: Translation of half-moon for Arabic Speakers
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