Pronunciations (5)
-
/muːn/
Pronunciation notes
- Received-Pronunciation
-
/mun/
Pronunciation notes
- General-American
-
/mʉn/
Pronunciation notes
- Northern-Ireland
- Scotland
-
muːn
Pronunciation notes
- GB
-
mun
Pronunciation notes
- US
Noun
Any natural satellite of a planet.
Usage- broadly
- Informal
- of Moon
- Examples
-
The stargazer observed the moons of Jupiter for over a year.
That's no moon, you idiot... it's a space station!
More examples (2)
Temperatures at Neptune are so low that Triton, its only major moon, revealed landscapes of nitrogen and methane ice.
The field’s practitioners believe that as they learn to read the universe using neutrinos, they could make new, unexpected discoveries — much as the lensmakers who first developed the telescope could not have imagined that Galileo would later use it to discover the moons of Jupiter.
A month, particularly a lunar month.
Usage- Literary
- Examples
-
They stayed with their aunt and uncle for many moons.
For since these arms of mine had seven years' pith, Till now some nine moons wasted, they have used Their dearest action in the tented field…
More examples (4)
They number their age by Moons or Winters, and say a Woman or a Man is so many Moons old, and so they do with all memorable Actions in life, accounting it to be so many Moons or Winters since such or such a thing happened.
Many moons had waxed and waned when on the afternoon of a lovely summer day a lusty broad-boned knight was riding through the forest of Sherwood.
“From whence came the yellow metal, Busuli?” he asked. The black pointed toward the southeast. “A moon’s march away—maybe more,” he replied.
2002, Russell Allen, "Incantations of the Apprentice", on Symphony X, The Odyssey. Through eerie reach of ancient woods / Where lumbering mists arise / I journey for nines moons of the year / To where a land of legend lies
A representation of the moon, usually as a crescent or as a circle with a face; a crescent-shaped shape, symbol, or object.
- Examples
-
The wizard costume was decorated with stars and moons.
A crescent-like outwork in a fortification.
- Examples
-
The moons surrounding the city walls were built in the sixteenth century.
The eighteenth trump/major arcana card of the tarot.
The thirty-second Lenormand card.
In hearts, the action of taking all the point cards in one hand.
Verb
To display one's buttocks to, typically as a jest, insult, or protest.
Usage- Colloquial
- Transitive
- Examples
-
The hooligans mooned the riot police.
It was ill-advised of Sam to moon the photographer during the shoot.
To gaze at lovingly or in adoration.
Usage- Colloquial
- Intransitive
- Examples
-
More examples (1)
Bradly stood bewitched, mooning at the moon. Betimes he bent in a grotesque posture and looked at it between his legs, which was to rid his mind of preconceived colour values by seeing them upside down.
To completely back down now would be as unnatural as mooning in front of your girlfriend's parents.
To fuss over something adoringly; to be infatuated with someone.
Usage- Colloquial
- Intransitive
- usually
- followed by over or after
- Examples
-
Sarah mooned over Sam's photograph for months.
You've been mooning after her forever; why not just ask her out?
More examples (1)
On some level, the filmmakers behind Monster Trucks must have recognized the ill fit of Till playing a teenager, because they cast Jane Levy, a 27-year-old who can pass for younger but not a decade younger, as Meredith, a nerdy classmate of Tripp’s who moons over him as she insists on making an appointment to tutor him in biology.
To spend time idly, absent-mindedly.
- Examples
-
We were only three on board. The poor old skipper mooned in the cabin.
I mooned around. I was mighty sick of the room by then.
To expose to the rays of the Moon.
Usage- Transitive
To adorn with moons or crescents.
Usage- Transitive
To rise in price rapidly or suddenly. (from to the moon)
Usage- of a coin or token
- Examples
-
It is impractical if a currency moons and plummets often.
More examples (2)
I've followed several of the most popular crypto pundits on Twitter and discovered they constantly brag about their one big Hail Mary pick that mooned but neglect to mention – or delete – their numerous fumbles.
“It was like nothing I ever saw. Just complete murder and carnage.” “Everything seemed calm at first but then this guy in a suit shows up talking about investment opportunities. Next thing you know these people over here started chanting, "Hoddle, Hoddle," and their NFTs started mooning. And then, these guys over here started saying those guys right there right-clicked 'em and-and called for a pump-and-dump, which made these guys beat the living hell out of anyone who said it was just FOMO and died screaming that is was the flippening. Luckily I came out of it ok. I got this little miniature donkey with a lit-up sombrero.” “Did you see where the guy in the suit went afterwards?” “Nah, he just waltzed right away like nothin' happened.” “Chief, you better come take a look at this. We got a small turtle with wings, could be a great investment opportunity.” “Excuse me, gentlemen.”
To shoot the moon.
Noun
any object resembling a moon
- Broader terms
- Examples
-
he made a moon lamp that he used as a night light
the clock had a moon that showed various phases
the period between successive new moons (29.531 days)
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
any natural satellite of a planet
- Broader terms
- Examples
-
Jupiter has sixteen moons
Verb
have dreamlike musings or fantasies while awake
- Synonyms
- Examples
-
She looked out the window, daydreaming
be idle in a listless or dreamy way
- Synonyms
expose one's buttocks to
- Examples
-
moon the audience