crescent

American  

[kres-uhnt] / ˈkrɛs ənt /

noun

• crescents
  plural

1. a shape resembling a segment of a ring tapering to points at the ends.

2. something, as a roll or cookie, having this shape.

3. Astronomy.

   1. the figure of the moon in its first or last quarter, resembling a segment of a ring tapering to points at the ends.

   2. the similar figure of Mercury and Venus on either side of inferior conjunction, when seen through a telescope.

4. the emblem of Turkey or of Islam.

5. the power, religion, or civilization of Turkey or of Islam.

6. Also called Chinese crescent.  Also called Chinese pavilion.  Also called jingling Johnny, pavillon Chinois.  Also called Turkish crescent.  a musical percussion instrument of Turkish origin, consisting of a pole bearing a crescent-shaped metal plate, topped with a pavillon, and hung with small bells.

7. Chiefly British.

   1. a curved street, often having solid façades of unified architectural design.

   2. the curve or curved portion of a street.

8. Heraldry. a representation of a crescent moon, horns upward unless otherwise specified, used as the cadency mark of a second son.

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adjective

1. shaped like a crescent.

2. increasing; growing.

crescent British  

/ ˈkrɛsənt, -zənt /

noun

1. the biconcave shape of the moon in its first or last quarters

2. any shape or object resembling this

3. 1. a crescent-shaped street, often lined with houses of the same style

   2. ( capital when part of a name )

      Pelham Crescent

4. heraldry a crescent moon, used as the cadency mark of a second son

5. (often capital)

   1. the emblem of Islam or Turkey

   2. Islamic or Turkish power

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adjective

1. archaic increasing or growing

crescent Scientific  

/ krĕs′ənt /

1. Partly but less than half illuminated. Used to describe the Moon or a planet.

2. Compare gibbous

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• crescentic
  adjective
• subcrescentic
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• crescents
  plural

Etymology

Origin of crescent

1350–1400; < Latin crēscent- (stem of crēscēns ) present participle of crēscere to grow ( see create, -esce); replacing Middle English cressaunt < Anglo-French < Latin as above

Explanation

A crescent is a thin, curved shape that’s thicker in the middle and tapers to thin points at each end, like the little sliver of moon you might notice in the sky. Crescent was first used to describe the shape of the waxing, or growing moon, and if you listen closely you can hear its similarity to increase. But a crescent can be any thin, curved shape. You might see a crescent of light hitting the pavement or a crescent of beach next to the ocean. Crescent can also act as an adjective describing something that has that shape, like a crescent moon or a crescent roll.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

crescent crescents

The Sun splashes on a striking image of a partial eclipse leaving a crescent sliver peeking out with the playful headline: "The Sun, the Moon."

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026

But the two that stand out most drape along the right side of his face like a crescent moon: “Victory” and “God Will Rise.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

Parkin said while "it won't go pitch black", it would "go semi-dark, it'll be like dusk", leaving only a thin crescent of sunlight visible.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

Because the spacecraft approached Mars at a high-phase angle, the planet first appeared as a narrow, bright crescent.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 28, 2026

She wanted to take him in the crescent of her arms and heal him.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers

Inside Jimi, normally pliable, disc-shaped red blood cells deformed into rigid crescents.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 28, 2023

And it is those handsome townhouses and sweeping crescents, along with traces of the Roman past, that bring in visitors by the coachload.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2021

They’d have no idea what those crescents, triangles and wedges are even supposed to be, much less consider climbing it.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 5, 2021

Once, hands wet from their hourly washing, I tried to turn the bathroom doorknob and my nails dug into my own palm, leaving four bright red crescents in my hand.

From Slate ● Dec. 31, 2020

There were crescents and quarters, gibbous and full, and they weren’t charms, they were moons—real miniature moons, cratered and luminous, as though lit by the rays of some distant star.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor