moon

1 of 2

noun

ˈmün 

1

a

often capitalized : the earth's natural satellite (see satellite sense 1a) that shines by the sun's reflected light, revolves about the earth from west to east in about 29¹/₂ days with reference to the sun or about 27¹/₃ days with reference to the stars, and has a diameter of 2160 miles (3475 kilometers), a mean distance from the earth of about 238,900 miles (384,400 kilometers), and a mass about one eightieth that of the earth

—usually used with the

b

: one complete moon cycle consisting of four phases (see phase entry 1 sense 1)

c

: satellite sense 1

specifically : a natural satellite of a planet

the moons of Jupiter

2

: an indefinite usually extended period of time

a labor of many moons

3

: moonlight

keep out of the moon or it may turn your head

—H. R. Haggard

4

: something that resembles a moon: such as

a

: a highly translucent (see translucent sense 1) spot on old porcelain

b

: lunule

c

slang : naked buttocks

5

: something impossible or inaccessible

reach for the moon

moonlike

ˈmün-ˌlīk 

adjective

moon

2 of 2

verb

mooned; mooning; moons

transitive verb

1

: to spend in idle reverie : dream

—used with away

mooned the afternoon away

2

slang : to expose one's naked buttocks to

One of the boys mooned the crowd.

intransitive verb

: to spend time in idle reverie : behave abstractedly

fans mooning over movie stars

Phrases

over the moon

: very pleased : in high spirits

Synonyms

Noun

• aeon
• eon
• age
• blue moon
• coon's age
• cycle
• donkey's years [chiefly British]
• eternity
• forever
• long
• months

Examples of moon in a Sentence

Noun

The telescope makes the craters on the surface of the moon incredibly clear.

the orbit of the Moon around the Earth

Europa and Io are both moons of Jupiter.

a planet orbited by one moon

Verb

One of the boys mooned the crowd.

One of the boys mooned at the crowd.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

As further evidence of its oddity, Triton encircles its parent in the opposite direction compared with the other moons. —Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Nov. 2024

Next Sunday on the 10th, the first quarter moon will be tight and bright with Saturn, just below and to the right of the ringed planet. —Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 3 Nov. 2024

Verb

Which is to say this candidate was mooning Levine the entire conversation. —Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 11 July 2024

Everyone processes grief differently — Kate Beckinsale, in particular, recently channeled her mourning emotions into a mooning escapade following the death of her beloved cat, Clive. —EW.com, 2 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English mone, from Old English mōna; akin to Old High German māno moon, Latin mensis month, Greek mēn month, mēnē moon

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1836, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing moon

• ask for the moon
• blood moon
• blue moon
• cry for the moon
• full moon
• half-moon
• harvest moon
• moon after
• moon around/about
• moon blindness
• moon-eyed
• moon festival
• moon landing
• moon over
• moon shell
• moon shot
• moon snail
• moon suit
• new moon
• no moon
• once in a blue moon
• paschal full moon
• promised her the stars and the moon
• promise (someone) the stars/moon/earth/world
• reach/shoot for the moon
• the moon

Kids Definition

moon

1 of 2 noun

ˈmün 

1

a

: the earth's natural satellite that shines by reflecting light from the sun and revolves about the earth in about 29½ days

b

: satellite sense 2a

2

: an unspecified and usually long period of time

took many moons to complete

3

: moonlight entry 1

moonless

-ləs

adjective

moon

2 of 2 verb

: to spend time daydreaming

Medical Definition

moon

noun

ˈmün 

: lunula sense a