Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

crescent

American  
[kres-uhnt] / ˈkrɛs ənt /

noun

  1. a shape resembling a segment of a ring tapering to points at the ends.

  2. something, as a roll or cookie, having this shape.

  3. Astronomy.

    1. the figure of the moon in its first or last quarter, resembling a segment of a ring tapering to points at the ends.

    2. the similar figure of Mercury and Venus on either side of inferior conjunction, when seen through a telescope.

  4. the emblem of Turkey or of Islam.

  5. the power, religion, or civilization of Turkey or of Islam.

  6. Also called Chinese crescent.  Also called Chinese pavilion.  Also called jingling Johnny, pavillon Chinois.  Also called Turkish crescent.  a musical percussion instrument of Turkish origin, consisting of a pole bearing a crescent-shaped metal plate, topped with a pavillon, and hung with small bells.

  7. Chiefly British.

    1. a curved street, often having solid façades of unified architectural design.

    2. the curve or curved portion of a street.

  8. Heraldry. a representation of a crescent moon, horns upward unless otherwise specified, used as the cadency mark of a second son.


adjective

  1. shaped like a crescent.

  2. increasing; growing.

crescent British  
/ -zənt, ˈkrɛsənt, krəˈsɛntɪk /

noun

  1. the biconcave shape of the moon in its first or last quarters

  2. any shape or object resembling this

    1. a crescent-shaped street, often lined with houses of the same style

    2. ( capital when part of a name )

      Pelham Crescent

  3. heraldry a crescent moon, used as the cadency mark of a second son

  4. (often capital)

    1. the emblem of Islam or Turkey

    2. Islamic or Turkish power

"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

adjective

  1. archaic increasing or growing

"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
crescent Scientific  
/ krĕsənt /
  1. Partly but less than half illuminated. Used to describe the Moon or a planet.

  2. Compare gibbous


Other Word Forms

  • crescentic adjective
  • subcrescentic adjective

Etymology

Origin of crescent

1350–1400; < Latin crēscent- (stem of crēscēns ) present participle of crēscere to grow ( create, -esce ); replacing Middle English cressaunt < Anglo-French < Latin as above

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

People living with sickle cell disease have red blood cells that are crescent shaped due to a gene mutation.

From Los Angeles Times

The stars scattered brightly and were mirrored in the sea, a fat crescent moon rose amongst them, and egg after round white egg rolled into the bottom of the nest.

From Literature

On the left was a crescent moon and on the right was something that looked like an archway made of bricks.

From Literature

Faint gray crescents ring his tired brown eyes, and his bedraggled curls are longer than usual.

From Literature

It looks kind of like a flaky roll, in the shape of a crescent moon.

From Literature