lunar month

American  

[loo-ner muhnth] / ˈlu nər ˈmʌnθ /

noun

1. month.

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lunar month British  

noun

1. another name for synodic month See month

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lunar month Scientific  

1. The average time between successive occurrences of the same phase of the Moon, equal to approximately 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes. Depending on the lunar calendar being used, a lunar month can begin with the new moon or the full moon.

2. Also called lunation synodic month

3. ◆ A period of 12 lunar months is a lunar year.

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Etymology

Origin of lunar month

First recorded in 1585–95

Example Sentences

It is expected to begin on Sunday, but the start of the lunar month depends on the sighting of the moon.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 7, 2024

Holi marks last full-moon day of the lunar month.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2022

The Maya did not attempt to correlate their calendar accurately with the length of the year or lunar month.

From Textbooks • Oct. 13, 2016

One Chinese tradition says restless spirits are on the prowl on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month.

From Time • Jul. 14, 2016

But the lunar month is between 29 and 30 days long.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife