Definition of "crescent"

crescent

/ˈkɹɛ.zənt/

noun
plural crescents
1. The figure of the moon as it appears between its first or last quarter and the new moon, with concave and convex edges terminating in points.
2. Something shaped like a crescent, especially:
  1. A curved pastry.
  2. A curved street, often presenting a continuous façade, as of row houses.
  3. (Islam) A representation of a crescent, used as a symbol of Islam.
  4. (heraldry) The emblem of the waxing 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.
3. (New Zealand) A crescent spanner.
4. (historical) Any of three orders of knighthood conferred upon foreigners to whom Turkey might be indebted for valuable services.
  Quotations
  Sebastiani receives publicly the Sultan's thanks, and is decorated with the Order of the Crescent
  1880, Elizabeth Stone, Sebastiani receives publicly the Sultan's thanks, and is decorated with the Order of the Crescent
5. A crescentspot butterfly.
adjective
not comparable
1. (dated, rare) marked by an increase; waxing, like the Moon.
  Quotations
  For nature creſſant does not grovve alone / In thevvs and bulkes, but as this temple vvaxes, / The invvard ſervice of the minde and ſoule / Grovves vvide vvithal, […]For a human being's vital functions, increasing, do not grow alone / In physical development and bulk, but as this "temple" [i.e., the body] waxes, / The inward operation of the mind and soul / Grows wide with them.
  c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke: […] (Second Quarto), London: […] I[ames] R[oberts] for N[icholas] L[ing] […], published 1604, [Act I, scene iii]
  O, I see the crescent promise of my spirit hath not set.
  1835, Alfred Tennyson, “Locksley Hall”, in Poems. […], volumes (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Edward Moxon, […], published 1842
  crescent problems which have to be faced by a large part of humanity
  1928, Edward A. Ross, World Drift, New York, London: The Century Co., page v
2. Shaped like a crescent.
  Quotations
  Astarte, queen of heaven, with crescent horns.
  1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […]; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873,
verb
third-person singular simple present crescents, present participle crescenting, simple past and past participle crescented
1. (transitive) To form a crescent shape
  Quotations
  A dark wood crescents more than half the lawn
  1809, Anna Seward, “Letter VI. 195”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name)
2. (transitive) To decorate with crescents.

Definition of "crescent"

crescent

noun

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adjective

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verb

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