¹crescent

noun cres·cent \ˈkre-s^ənt\

: the shape of the visible part of the moon when it is less than half full

: a shape that is curved, wide at its center, and pointed at its two ends like a crescent moon

Full Definition of CRESCENT

a : the moon at any stage between new moon and first quarter and between last quarter and the succeeding new moon when less than half of the illuminated hemisphere is visible

b : the figure of the moon at such a stage defined by a convex and a concave edge

: something shaped like a crescent

— cres·cen·tic \kre-ˈsen-tik, krə-\ adjective

See crescent defined for English-language learners

See crescent defined for kids

Origin of CRESCENT

Middle English cressant, from Anglo-French, from present participle of crestre to grow, increase, from Latin crescere; akin to Old High German hirsi millet, Lithuanian šerti to feed, Greek koros boy

First Known Use: 15th century

Other Astronomy Terms

gibbous, nadir, nebulous, penumbra, retrograde, sidereal, syzygy, wane, wax, zenith

²crescent

adjective

Definition of CRESCENT

: marked by an increase : increasing <my powers are crescent — Shakespeare>

Origin of CRESCENT

Latin crescent-, crescens, present participle of crescere

First Known Use: 1574

Crescent

trademark Cres·cent \ˈkre-s^ənt\

Definition of CRESCENT

—used for an adjustable open-end wrench

Rhymes with CRESCENT

crescent

CRESCENT Defined for Kids

¹crescent

noun cres·cent \ˈkre-s^ənt\

Definition of CRESCENT for Kids

: the shape of the visible part of the moon when it is less than half full

: something shaped like a crescent moon

²crescent

adjective

Definition of CRESCENT for Kids

: shaped like the crescent moon <crescent rolls>

Medical Dictionary

crescent

noun cres·cent \ˈkres-^ənt\

Medical Definition of CRESCENT

: a crescent-shaped anatomical structure or section

: the gametocyte of the falciparum malaria parasite that is shaped like a crescent and constitutes a distinguishing character of malignant tertian malaria