Adjacent Words

Crescent definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

CRESCENT, a. [L., to grow. See Grow.] Increasing; growing; as crescent horns.
CRESCENT, n.
1. The increasing or new moon, which, when receding from the sun, shows a curving rim of light, terminating in points or horns. It is applied to the old or decreasing moon, in a like state, but less properly.
2. The figure or likeness of the new moon; as that borne in the Turkish flag or national standard. The standard itself, and figuratively, the Turkish power.
3. In heraldry, a bearing in the form of a half moon.
4. The name of a military order, instituted by Renatus of Anjou, king of Sicily; so called from its symbol or badge, a crescent of gold enameled.
CRESCENT, v.t. To form into a crescent.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: resembling the new moon in shape [syn: crescent, crescent-shaped, semilunar, lunate] n
1: any shape resembling the curved shape of the moon in its first or last quarters

Merriam Webster's

trademark — used for an adjustable open-end wrench

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English cressant, from Anglo-French, from present participle of crestre to grow, increase, from Latin crescere; akin to Old High German hirsi millet, Lithuanian šerti to feed, Greek koros boy Date: 15th century 1. a. the moon at any stage between new moon and first quarter and between last quarter and the succeeding new moon when less than half of the illuminated hemisphere is visible b. the figure of the moon at such a stage defined by a convex and a concave edge 2. something shaped like a crescent • crescentic adjective II. adjective Etymology: Latin crescent-, crescens, present participle of crescere Date: 1574 marked by an increase ; increasing <my powers are crescent — Shakespeare>

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & adj. --n. 1 the curved sickle shape of the waxing or waning moon. 2 anything of this shape, esp. Brit. a street forming an arc. 3 a the crescent-shaped emblem of Islam or Turkey. b (the Crescent) the world or power of Islam. --adj. 1 poet. increasing. 2 crescent-shaped. Derivatives: crescentic adj. Etymology: ME f. AF cressaunt, OF creissant, f. L crescere grow

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Crescent Cres"cent, v. t. 1. To form into a crescent, or something resembling a crescent. [R.] --Anna Seward. 2. To adorn with crescents.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Crescent Cres"cent (kr[e^]s"sent), a. 1. Shaped like a crescent. Astarte, queen of heaven, with crescent horns. --Milton. 2. Increasing; growing. O, I see the crescent promise of my spirit hath not set. --Tennyson.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Crescent Cres"cent (kr[e^]s"sent), n. [OE. cressent, cressaunt, crescent (in sense 1), OF. creissant increasing, F. croissant, p. pr. of cro[^i]tre, OF. creistre, fr. L. crescere to increase, v. incho.; akin to creare to create. See Create, and cf. Accrue, Increase, Crescendo.] 1. The increasing moon; the moon in her first quarter, or when defined by a concave and a convex edge; also, applied improperly to the old or decreasing moon in a like state. 2. Anything having the shape of a crescent or new moon. 3. A representation of the increasing moon, often used as an emblem or badge; as: (a) A symbol of Artemis, or Diana. (b) The ancient symbol of Byzantium or Constantinople. Hence: (c) The emblem of the Turkish Empire, adopted after the taking of Constantinople. The cross of our faith is replanted, The pale, dying crescent is daunted. --Campbell. 4. Any one of three orders of knighthood; the first instituted by Charles I., king of Naples and Sicily, in 1268; the second by Ren['e] of Anjou, in 1448; and the third by the Sultan Selim III., in 1801, to be conferred upon foreigners to whom Turkey might be indebted for valuable services. --Brande & C. 5. (Her.) The emblem of the increasing moon with horns directed upward, when used in a coat of arms; -- often used as a mark of cadency to distinguish a second son and his descendants.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(crescents) 1. A crescent is a curved shape that is wider in the middle than at its ends, like the shape of the moon during its first and last quarters. It is the most important symbol of the Islamic faith. A glittering Islamic crescent tops the mosque. ...a narrow crescent of sand dunes. ...a crescent moon. N-COUNT 2. Crescent is sometimes used as part of the name of a street or row of houses that is usually built in a curve. (mainly BRIT) ...44 Colville Crescent. N-IN-NAMES

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. New moon, moon in her first quarter. 2. Figure of the new moon, lune. 3. Turkish standard. 4. [With The prefixed.] Turkish power, Ottoman Empire, Sublime Porte; Mohammedanism, Islamism, Islam. II. a. Growing, enlarging, increasing.

Moby Thesaurus

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