gibbous
Americanadjective
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Astronomy. (of a heavenly body) convex at both edges, as the moon when more than half full.
adjective
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(of the moon or a planet) more than half but less than fully illuminated
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having a hunchback; hunchbacked
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bulging
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More than half but less than fully illuminated. Used to describe the Moon or a planet.
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Compare crescent
Other Word Forms
- gibbosely adverb
- gibboseness noun
- gibbously adverb
- gibbousness noun
Etymology
Origin of gibbous
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin gibbōsus humped, equivalent to gibb ( a ) hump + -ōsus -ous
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“The waning gibbous moon will severely compromise this shower at the time of maximum activity,” notes the American Meteor Society.
From Los Angeles Times
Viewing will also be hampered by the waning gibbous moon at 93% of its full illumination and present in the sky throughout the night.
From BBC
The Moon will be in a waxing gibbous phase – going from half moon to full moon.
From BBC
Even now, however, a waning gibbous moon will still somewhat impede viewing conditions.
From Salon
The waxing gibbous moon will set around midnight, ushering in excellent viewing conditions later in the night and predawn hours.
From National Geographic
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.