wane

Everyday

1. (science) Of the Moon: to look smaller each night after the full moon, as less of its lit side faces the Earth. tree →
2. To become weaker, smaller or less important little by little: interest, light or strength can wane. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on the Moon's phases, the Moon waxes (grows) from new moon to full moon, then wanes (shrinks) back. A "waning crescent" is the thin Moon before the new moon. In stories and the news, "his interest began to wane" means he became less interested. "On the wane" means getting weaker. Phrases: "wax and wane", "a waning moon", "on the wane", "interest waned".

Examples

• After the full moon, the Moon begins to wane. tree →
• We drew the waning moon in our science diary. tree →
• As the evening went on, the light began to wane. tree →
• My interest in the film waned after half an hour. tree →
• The storm waned during the night. tree →
• The fashion for that toy is on the wane. tree →
• The Moon waxes and wanes about once a month. tree →
• When he finds her, she is living at ease in a large house, but day by day her riches wane and her house contracts. tree →

Note

Regular verb: waned, waning. Opposite: wax (for the Moon), grow, increase. Homophone trap: "wane" sounds like "Wayne" (a name) and "wain" (an old word for a farm cart). The Moon does not really change size; only the part we see lit by the Sun changes.