lunar month
Americannoun
noun
-
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.
-
Also called lunation synodic month
-
◆ A period of 12 lunar months is a lunar year.
Etymology
Origin of lunar month
First recorded in 1585–95
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 new Moon marks the start of each lunar month of the Jewish calendar, with the full Moon always falling mid-way through.
From BBC ● Mar. 29, 2026
According to the International Canoe Federation, the first known dragon boat races were held in China during the fifth lunar month of the Chinese calendar more than 2,000 years ago.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 14, 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
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.
