lunar cycle

American

[loo-ner sahy-kuhl] / ˈlu nər ˈsaɪ kəl /

noun

Astronomy.

a cycle of 235 synodic months, very nearly equal to 19 years, after which the new moon occurs on the same day of the year as at the beginning of the cycle with perhaps a shift of one day, depending on the number of leap years in the cycle.

Etymology

Origin of lunar cycle

First recorded in 1695–1705

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.

With the element of fire as an intensifier, the Fire Horse is the daredevil and thrill-seeker of the lunar cycle.

From Los Angeles Times

We usually get 12 full Moons a year, but as this doesn't quite match up with the lunar cycle we get an additional one roughly every two and half years.

From BBC

We usually get 12 full Moons a year, but as this doesn't quite match up with the lunar cycle roughly every two and half years we get an additional full Moon.

From BBC

As the lunar cycle is 29.5 days, eventually this gets out of sync with our calendar where you normally have one full moon a month.

From BBC

However this blue moon comes from an alternative, more traditional definition when the lunar cycle results in any season having four, not three full moons.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023