Search Dictionary
Definition of half-moon
half-moon
Plural:half-moons
• noun
1
The moon at its first or last quarter, when half of its visible disk is illuminated, or the time of the month when this phase occurs.
Example
"A bright half-moon hung above the lake, casting a soft silver glow across the water."
2
A semicircular or crescent-shaped object, figure, or arrangement.
Example
"She rolled out the pastry dough and folded each piece into a neat half-moon."
3
The pale, crescent-shaped area at the base of a fingernail or toenail.
Example
"The dermatologist examined the pale half-moon at the base of the patient's thumbnail."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for half-moon Antonyms
View all antonyms for half-moon• adjective
1
Shaped like a semicircle or crescent.
Example
"The professor peered over his half-moon spectacles at the quiet lecture hall."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for half-moonUsage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Half-moon. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/half--moon