moon

1 of 2

noun

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 headH. 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 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

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
Hawksbill turtles from as far away as Panama crawl onshore to nest under the summer moon. Carina Del Valle Schorske, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024 Deep in the night, sometimes, the sinking moon lit up the ocean. Zach Williams, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024 Abstract concepts rush in when the Gemini moon encourages Mars. USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2024 Europa Clipper is set to make nearly 50 flybys of Europa, eventually coming within 16 miles (25.7 kilometers) above its thick ice crust to survey almost the entirety of that moon. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024 Islam’s holiest month begins with the sighting of the first crescent after the new moon. Sufian Taha, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024 Usually, public observing sessions might focus on objects closer to home, like Saturn or Jupiter and its moons. Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Mar. 2024 The film, which follows a mysterious stranger who provides hope for survival to the denizens on a distant moon amid threats by the armies of a tyrannical ruling force, is the first in a two-part saga. Carly Thomas, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024 The new moon this month rises a few weeks before its corresponding full moon, nicknamed the Worm Moon, which is predicted to peak on March 25 this year. Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024
Verb
The New York Times, April 12, 1985, Lasers measure distance to moon to within an inch, scientists say The Institute of Physics, accessed Jan. 16, The Moon’s distance from Earth Thank you for supporting our journalism. USA TODAY, 17 Jan. 2024 But unfortunately for me, George Eliot doesn’t at any point go off on one about Dorothea’s potentially problematic drinking, nor does Daphne du Maurier’s titular heroine moon a TV camera by inelegantly sliding down a fire station pole. Lauren O’Neill, Vogue, 17 July 2023 His running commentary was informative and funny, helping fill in the story of the landscape and of its stranger features—like the many rafters who kept mooning the train. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 14 July 2023 Leon continued the post, adding a shot of herself mooning the camera in the catsuit while posing with her label-mate Sammy before adding a final clip of herself doing sultry poses on a glowing dance floor. Zizi Strater, Peoplemag, 17 May 2023 Unfortunately, there is a fair bit of mooning on the part of both Will and Summer. The Rachel Weisz Gay Index, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2023 There are some quirky moments with the various surrealists — André Breton, Max Ernst and Hans Bellmer get the greatest spotlight — mooning around the Villa, saying bizarre things and celebrating holidays in weird ways. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Apr. 2023 An unruly passenger flying from Ireland to New York earlier this month got into trouble after allegedly creating multiple disturbances, going so far as to moon a flight attendant and throw an empty can at another passenger. Bailey Schulz, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2022 Bart, meanwhile, makes a statement by pulling down his leather and denim trousers to moon the audience. CNN, 4 Oct. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word '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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of moon was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near moon

Cite this Entry

“Moon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moon. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

moon

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: the earth's natural satellite that shines by reflecting light from the sun and revolves about the earth in about 29½ days
2
: an unspecified and usually long period of time
took many moons to complete
3
moonless
-ləs
adjective

moon

2 of 2 verb
: to spend time daydreaming

Medical Definition

moon

noun

More from Merriam-Webster on moon

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