moon
the moon or the Moon , the earth's natural satellite, orbiting the earth at a mean distance of 238,857 miles (384,393 km) and having a diameter of 2,160 miles (3,476 km).
this body during a particular lunar month, or during a certain period of time, or at a certain point of time, regarded as a distinct object or entity.: Compare full moon (def. 1), half-moon (def. 1), new moon (def. 1), waning moon, waxing moon.
a lunar month, or, in general, a month.
any planetary satellite: the moons of Jupiter.
something shaped like an orb or a crescent.
a platyfish.
Slang. the buttocks, especially when bared.
to act or wander abstractedly or listlessly: You've been mooning about all day.
to sentimentalize or remember nostalgically: He spent the day mooning about his lost love.
to gaze dreamily or sentimentally at something or someone: They sat there mooning into each other's eyes.
Slang. to expose one's buttocks suddenly and publicly as a prank or gesture of disrespect.
to spend (time) idly: She mooned the afternoon away, unable to think what to do next.
to illuminate by or align against the moon.
Slang. to expose one's buttocks to as a prank or gesture of disrespect.
Idioms about moon
blue moon. See entry at blue moon.
over the moon. See entry at over the moon.
Origin of moon
1Other words from moon
- moon·er, noun
- moon·less, adjective
Other definitions for Moon (2 of 2)
Sun Myung [suhn myuhng], /sʌn myʌŋ/, 1920–2012, Korean religious leader: founder of the Unification Church.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for moon (1 of 3)
/ (muːn) /
(sometimes capital) the natural satellite of the earth. Diameter: 3476 km; mass: 7.35 × 10 22 kg; mean distance from earth: 384 400 km; periods of rotation and revolution: 27.32 days: Related adjective: lunar
the face of the moon as it is seen during its revolution around the earth, esp at one of its phases: new moon; full moon
any natural satellite of a planet
moonlight; moonshine
something resembling a moon
a month, esp a lunar one
once in a blue moon very seldom
over the moon informal extremely happy; ecstatic
reach for the moon to desire or attempt something unattainable or difficult to obtain
(when tr, often foll by away; when intr, often foll by around) to be idle in a listless way, as if in love, or to idle (time) away
(intr) slang to expose one's buttocks to passers-by
Origin of moon
1Derived forms of moon
- moonless, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for Moon (2 of 3)
/ (muːn) /
a system of embossed alphabetical signs for blind readers, the fourteen basic characters of which can, by rotation, mimic most of the letters of the Roman alphabet, thereby making learning easier for those who learned to read before going blind: Compare Braille 1
British Dictionary definitions for Moon (3 of 3)
/ (muːn) /
William. 1818–94, British inventor of the Moon writing system in 1847, who, himself blind, taught blind children in Brighton and printed mainly religious works from stereotyped plates of his own designing
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for moon
[ mōōn ]
Often Moon. The natural satellite of Earth, visible by reflection of sunlight and traveling around Earth in a slightly elliptical orbit at an average distance of about 381,600 km (237,000 mi). The Moon's average diameter is 3,480 km (2,160 mi), and its mass is about 180 that of Earth. Its average period of revolution around Earth is 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes. See more at giant impact theory.
A natural satellite revolving around a planet.
a closer look
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for moon
Notes for moon
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with moon
see ask for the moon; once in a blue moon.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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