full moon

American  

noun

1. the moon when the whole of its disk is illuminated, occurring when in opposition to the sun.

2. the phase of the moon at this time.

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full moon British  

noun

1. one of the four phases of the moon, occurring when the earth lies between the sun and the moon so that the moon is visible as a fully illuminated disc

2. the moon in this phase

3. the time at which this occurs

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full moon Scientific  

/ fl /

1. The phase of the Moon in which it is visible as a fully illuminated disk. This phase occurs when the Moon is on the opposite side of Earth as the Sun and is not in Earth's shadow.

2. See more at moon Compare new moon

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Etymology

Origin of full moon

before 1000; Middle English ful moyne, Old English fulles monan

Compare meaning

How does full-moon compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• new moon vs. full moon

Example Sentences

Full moon tide, three-to-five-foot storm surge, 75-mile-an-hour winds, the whole thing.

From Salon • Aug. 28, 2021

Full moon comes out, orchestra comes back, and we play the rest of the show.

From Washington Times • Apr. 18, 2017

Full moon hikes offer hikers the opportunity to climb to Squaw Valley's majestic peaks through fields of wildflowers under the glow of the full moon.

From Time Magazine Archive

Full moon, and life is at the flood.

From The Forgotten Threshold by O'Brien, Edward J. (Edward Joseph Harrington)

Full moon if unfreckled would favour thee, iv.

From The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 10 by Burton, Richard Francis, Sir