half-moon

Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

half-moon

(hăf′mo͞on′, häf′-)

1. The moon when only half its disk is illuminated.

2. Something that is shaped like a half circle or a crescent, such as the lunula of a fingernail.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

half-moon

1. (Astronomy) the moon at first or last quarter when half its face is illuminated

2. (Astronomy) the time at which a half-moon occurs

a. something shaped like a half-moon

b. (as modifier): half-moon spectacles.

4. (Anatomy) anatomy a nontechnical name for lunula

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

half′-moon′

1. the moon when, at either quadrature, half its disk is illuminated.

2. the phase of the moon at this time.

3. something having the shape of a half-moon or crescent.

[1375–1425]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun	1.	half-moon - the crescent-shaped area at the base of the human fingernail lunula, lunule region, area - a part of an animal that has a special function or is supplied by a given artery or nerve; "in the abdominal region" nail - horny plate covering and protecting part of the dorsal surface of the digits
	2.	half-moon - the time at which the Moon is at first or last quarter when half its face is illuminated month - a time unit of approximately 30 days; "he was given a month to pay the bill" phase of the moon - a time when the Moon presents a particular recurring appearance first quarter - the first fourth of the Moon's period of revolution around the Earth last quarter - the last fourth of the Moon's period of revolution around the Earth

Translations

half-moon

[ˈhɑːfˈmuːn] N → media luna f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

half-moon

[ˌhaːfˈmuːn] n → mezzaluna
half-moon spectacles → mezze lunette fpl

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

Mentioned in ?

References in classic literature ?

But his reputation had crossed the Atlantic before Maguire himself; the grandiose hotels had closed their doors to him; and he had already taken and sumptuously furnished the house in Half-moon Street which does not re-let to this day.

View in context

The hamlet's front was washed by the clear waters of the great river; its body stretched itself rearward up a gentle incline; its most rearward border fringed itself out and scattered its houses about its base line of the hills; the hills rose high, enclosing the town in a half-moon curve, clothed with forests from foot to summit.

View in context

They saw the ships move forward in a large half-moon, but could not discern me, who was up to my breast in water.

View in context

As we passed the point the whole cove burst upon our view, a half-moon of white sandy beach upon which broke a huge surf, and which was covered with myriads of seals.

View in context

Ye see how the hill curves round like the half-moon, and how the plain runs like a green tongue towards us within the curve?"

View in context

Its fiery rays dispelled the clinging vapors, and there, before our eyes, like a picture, lay the shrimp fleet, spread out in a great half-moon, the tips of the crescent fully three miles apart, and each junk moored fast to the buoy of a shrimp-net.

View in context

I had risen half-an-hour before her entrance, and had washed my face, and put on my clothes by the light of a half-moon just setting, whose rays streamed through the narrow window near my crib.

View in context

All the other Isanusis, male and female, sat down in a half-moon facing the king, but this woman drew forward, and with her came nine of her sisterhood.

View in context

Then all sat down and feasted and drank merrily together until the sun was low and the half-moon glimmered with a pale light betwixt the leaves of the trees overhead.

View in context

In doing this I passed by many a food-stands where fried chicken and half-moon apple pies were piled high and made to present a most tempting appearance.

View in context

Stars, crosses, triangles, squares, half-moons, suns-- such are some of the signs used by correspondents.

View in context

"Tastes differ," murmured the dragonette, slowly drooping its scaley eyelids over its yellow eyes, until they looked like half-moons.