noun
Uncommon
crescent
KREHZ-uhnt
Crescent (noun) means the curved shape of the moon when it is partly illuminated, narrowing to points at each end. Example: “A thin crescent moon hung over the harbour.”
noun
1
The curved shape of the moon when it is partly illuminated, narrowing to points at each end.
"A thin crescent moon hung over the harbour."
2
Anything with this curved shape, including a curved pastry or a curved street of houses.
"They had croissants — literally "crescents" — for breakfast."
"The family lived on a quiet crescent lined with oak trees."
How to use crescent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe curved sliver shape of a young moon, or anything shaped like it.
Common pairings
crescent moon
crescent-shaped
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Word forms
- Plural
- crescents
- Third person singular
- crescents
- Past tense
- crescented
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A thin _____ moon hung over the harbour.
Etymology
From Old French creissant, "growing", from Latin crescens, present participle of crescere, "to grow" — a doublet of "croissant". The shape refers to the moon in its waxing phase.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for crescent
See all rhymes for crescent →Frequently asked questions
What does “crescent” mean?
The word “crescent” means the curved shape of the moon when it is partly illuminated, narrowing to points at each end. In plain terms, the curved sliver shape of a young moon, or anything shaped like it.
How do you pronounce “crescent”?
“Crescent” is pronounced KREHZ-uhnt (/ˈkɹɛs.ənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “crescent” in a sentence?
Here is “crescent” used in a sentence: “A thin crescent moon hung over the harbour.”
What is the opposite of “crescent”?
The opposite of “crescent” — its antonyms — is gibbous.
What part of speech is “crescent”?
“Crescent” is a noun.
Where does the word “crescent” come from?
The word “crescent” comes from Latin. From Old French creissant, "growing", from Latin crescens, present participle of crescere, "to grow" — a doublet of "croissant". The shape refers to the moon in its waxing phase.
Is “crescent” a common word?
“Crescent” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “crescent” have?
“Crescent” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the curved shape of the moon when it is partly illuminated, narrowing to points at each end.
What is the difference between a crescent moon and a half moon?
A crescent moon is a thin, curved sliver of the moon narrowing to points at each end, while a half moon shows exactly half the moon's face illuminated in a straight-edged semicircle. Crescent phases occur both before and after the half moon, closer to new moon.
Why are street names sometimes called crescents?
A crescent as a street name refers to a road that curves, often in the shape of the crescent moon, typically lined with houses along its arc. This use extends the geometric meaning of crescent as anything with a curved, moon-like shape.
Is a croissant called a crescent because of its shape?
Yes, a croissant is often described as crescent-shaped because its curved pastry form narrows to points at each end, similar to the crescent moon. The word crescent itself can refer generally to any object with this distinctive curved shape.
