crescent

Meanings

Noun

• The figure of the moon as it appears between its first or last quarter and the new moon, with concave and convex edges terminating in points.
• Something shaped like a crescent, especially:
• A representation of crescent used as a symbol of Islam.
• A crescent spanner.
• Any of three orders of knighthood conferred upon foreigners to whom Turkey might be indebted for valuable services.
• The emblem of the waxing Moon with horns directed upward, when used in a coat of arms; often used as a mark of cadency to distinguish a second son and his descendants.
• A crescentspot butterfly.

Adjective

• marked by an increase; waxing, like the Moon.
• Shaped like a crescent.

Verb

• To form into a crescent, or something resembling a crescent.
• To adorn with crescents.

Related

Opposite words

• gibbous

Origin

• From Middle English cressaunt, from Anglo-Norman cressaunt and Old French creissant ("crescent of the moon") (French croissant), from Latin crēscēns, present active participle of crēscō, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱer- ("to grow"). See Old Armenian սերիմ and սերեմ, Ancient Greek κόρη and κούρος, Latin creare and Ceres. croissant.