crescent

Everyday

1. The curved shape of the Moon when only a thin part of it can be seen, like a slice of melon. tree →
2. Any shape like that, curved and thin with pointed ends. tree →
3. A curved street of houses (used in many UK, Australian and NZ street names). tree →

In the lessons

In science, the crescent Moon is one of the phases of the Moon as it goes around the Earth. In maths and art, a crescent is a curved shape. In everyday life, many street names end in «Crescent». Phrases: «crescent moon», «a crescent shape».

Examples

• There was a thin crescent moon in the sky. tree →
• The croissant is shaped like a crescent. tree →
• We live at 12 Oak Crescent. tree →
• Draw a crescent by drawing two curves that meet at the points. tree →
• The crescent moon grows a little bigger each night until it is full. tree →
• The red crescent is a symbol of an aid group, like the red cross. tree →
• The sun had long set, and the young moon had risen like a silver crescent in the sky. tree →

Note

Countable: crescents. Spelling: «sc» in the middle. The Moon does not change shape; we just see different amounts of its sunlit side.

In Jewish tradition

It means a moon-shaped ornament, worn by women in Isaiah and hung on the camels' necks in Judges.

Interpretation. Isaiah lists such jewelry as proud finery that will be taken away. The new moon, a crescent, marks the start of each Jewish month.

Examples

• In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their anklets, and the fillets, and the crescents; (Prophets ISA.3.18, JPS 1917) tree →
• Then Zebah and Zalmunna said: 'Rise thou, and fall upon us; for as the man is, so is his strength.' And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescents that were on their camels' necks. (Prophets JDG.8.21, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable: crescents. Spelling: «sc» in the middle. The Moon does not change shape; we just see different amounts of its sunlit side.