moon (m n)n.1. often Moon The natural satellite of Earth, visible by reflection of sunlight and having a slightly elliptical orbit, approximately 356,000 kilometers (221,600 miles) distant at perigee and 406,997 kilometers (252,950 miles) at apogee. Its mean diameter is 3,475 kilometers (2,160 miles), its mass approximately one eightieth that of Earth, and its average period of revolution around Earth 29 days 12 hours 44 minutes calculated with respect to the sun. 2. A natural satellite revolving around a planet. 3. The moon as it appears at a particular time in its cycle of phases: a gibbous moon. 4. A month, especially a lunar month. 5. A disk, globe, or crescent resembling the natural satellite of Earth. 6. Moonlight. 7. Something unreasonable or unattainable: They acted as if we were asking for the moon. 8. Slang The bared buttocks. v. mooned, moon·ing, moons v.intr.1. To wander about or pass time languidly and aimlessly. 2. To yearn or pine as if infatuated. 3. Slang To expose one's buttocks in public as a prank or disrespectful gesture. v.tr. Slang To expose one's buttocks to (others) as a prank or disrespectful gesture: "threatened to moon a passing . . . camera crew" Vanity Fair.
[Middle English moone, from Old English m na; see m -2 in Indo-European roots.] |
moon Noun 1. the natural satellite of the earth Related adjective lunar 2. this satellite as it is seen during its revolution around the earth, esp. at one of its phases: new moon, full moon 3. any natural satellite of a planet 4. a month 5. over the moon Informal extremely happy; ecstatic Verb moon about or around to be idle in a listless or dreamy way [Old English mōna] moonless adj
moon (mn)1. 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 1/ 80 that of Earth. See more at giant impact theory. 2. A natural satellite revolving around a planet. A Closer Look The Earth's Moon is a desolate and quiet place. The only natural satellite of Earth, it consists almost entirely of rock, shows no signs of ongoing geologic activity, has no water, and has a very thin atmosphere consisting primarily of sodium. But our Moon does not present a typical case for planetary satellites. Over the last 50 years, over a hundred more moons have been discovered in the solar system, so that they now total 138, nearly all of them orbiting the larger planets Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus (Mercury, Venus, and Pluto have no moons, while Mars has two). Because they are so far from the Sun, these moons are for the most part extremely cold. Io, one of Jupiter's 63 known moons, is an exception. It is the most geologically active body in the solar system, with almost constant volcanic activity and a surface covered by cooling lava. Some scientists think that another moon of Jupiter, Europa, may have liquid water capable of supporting life underneath a thick layer of surface ice. Titan, one of Saturn's moons, may also be capable of supporting primitive life in the ocean of liquid methane on its frigid surface. | moon Half of the Moon is always in sunlight, as shown on the left. The relative positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun determine the Moon's phase as seen from the Earth, as shown on the right. |
Moonthe branch of astronomy that deals with the charting of the moon’s surface. — selenographer, selenographist, n. — selenographic, selenographical, adj. the worship of the moon. the branch of astronomy that studies the physical characteristics of the moon. — selenologist, n. — selenological, adj. a form of divination involving observation of the moon.
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Noun | 1. | moon - the natural satellite of the Earth; "the average distance to the Moon is 384,400 kilometers"; "men first stepped on the moon in 1969" | | 2. | moon - any object resembling a moon; "he made a moon lamp that he used as a night light"; "the clock had a moon that showed various phases"object, physical object - a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow; "it was full of rackets, balls and other objects" | | 3. | moon - the period between successive new moons (29.531 days)month - a time unit of approximately 30 days; "he was given a month to pay the bill" | | 4. |  Moon - the light of the Moon; "moonlight is the smuggler's enemy"; "the Moon was bright enough to read by" | | 5. | Moon - United States religious leader (born in Korea) who founded the Unification Church in 1954; was found guilty of conspiracy to evade taxes (born in 1920) | | 6. |  moon - any natural satellite of a planet; "Jupiter has sixteen moons"satellite - any celestial body orbiting around a planet or star | | Verb | 1. | moon - have dreamlike musings or fantasies while awake; "She looked out the window, daydreaming"laze, slug, idle, stagnate - be idle; exist in a changeless situation; "The old man sat and stagnated on his porch"; "He slugged in bed all morning" | | 2. | moon - be idle in a listless or dreamy waylaze, slug, idle, stagnate - be idle; exist in a changeless situation; "The old man sat and stagnated on his porch"; "He slugged in bed all morning" | | 3. | moon - expose one's buttocks to; "moon the audience"display, exhibit, expose - to show, make visible or apparent; "The Metropolitan Museum is exhibiting Goya's works this month"; "Why don't you show your nice legs and wear shorter skirts?"; "National leaders will have to display the highest skills of statesmanship" |
moon  Translations moon [muːn] n → luna
 moon [muːn] n → lune f
 moon [muːn] n → Mond m
 moon [muːn] n → luna
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