gibbous

[ gib-uhs ]
See synonyms for gibbous on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. Astronomy. (of a heavenly body) convex at both edges, as the moon when more than half full.

Origin of gibbous

1
1350–1400; Middle English <Latin gibbōsus humped, equivalent to gibb(a) hump + -ōsus-ous
  • Also gib·bose [gib-ohs]. /ˈgɪb oʊs/.

Other words from gibbous

  • gib·bous·ly, gib·bose·ly, adverb
  • gib·bous·ness, gib·bose·ness, noun

Words Nearby gibbous

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How to use gibbous in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for gibbous

gibbous

gibbose (ˈɡɪbəʊs)

/ (ˈɡɪbəs) /


adjective
  1. (of the moon or a planet) more than half but less than fully illuminated

  2. having a hunchback; hunchbacked

  1. bulging

Origin of gibbous

1
C17: from Late Latin gibbōsus humpbacked, from Latin gibba hump

Derived forms of gibbous

  • gibbously, adverb
  • gibbousness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for gibbous

gibbous

[ gĭbəs ]


  1. More than half but less than fully illuminated. Used to describe the Moon or a planet. Compare crescent.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.