Adjacent Words

lunar day definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the period of time taken for the moon to make one full rotation on its axis (about 27.3 sidereal days)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Day Day, n. [OE. day, dai,, dei, AS. d[ae]g; akin to OS., D., Dan., & Sw. dag, G, tag, Icel. dagr, Goth. dags; cf. Skr. dah (for dhagh ?) to burn. [root]69. Cf. Dawn.] 1. The time of light, or interval between one night and the next; the time between sunrise and sunset, or from dawn to darkness; hence, the light; sunshine. 2. The period of the earth's revolution on its axis. -- ordinarily divided into twenty-four hours. It is measured by the interval between two successive transits of a celestial body over the same meridian, and takes a specific name from that of the body. Thus, if this is the sun, the day (the interval between two successive transits of the sun's center over the same meridian) is called a solar day; if it is a star, a sidereal day; if it is the moon, a lunar day. See Civil day, Sidereal day, below. 3. Those hours, or the daily recurring period, allotted by usage or law for work. 4. A specified time or period; time, considered with reference to the existence or prominence of a person or thing; age; time. A man who was great among the Hellenes of his day. --Jowett (Thucyd. ) If my debtors do not keep their day, . . . I must with patience all the terms attend. --Dryden. 5. (Preceded by the) Some day in particular, as some day of contest, some anniversary, etc. The field of Agincourt, Fought on the day of Crispin Crispianus. --Shak. His name struck fear, his conduct won the day. --Roscommon. Note: Day is much used in self-explaining compounds; as, daybreak, daylight, workday, etc.