crescent

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈkrɛsənt/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈkrɛsənt/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(kres′ənt)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
cres•cent /ˈkrɛsənt/USA pronunciation   n. [countable]
  1. a shape resembling a half circle or part of a ring, tapering to points at the ends.
  2. something, such as a roll or cookie, having this shape.
  3. Astronomythe figure of the moon in its first or last quarter, resembling such a shape.

adj. 
  1. shaped like a crescent:a crescent roll.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
cres•cent  (kres′ənt),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. a shape resembling a segment of a ring tapering to points at the ends.
  2. something, as a roll or cookie, having this shape.
  3. Astronomy
    • the figure of the moon in its first or last quarter, resembling a segment of a ring tapering to points at the ends. See diag. under moon. 
    • the similar figure of Mercury and Venus on either side of inferior conjunction, when seen through a telescope.
  4. the emblem of Turkey or of Islam.
  5. the power, religion, or civilization of Turkey or of Islam.
  6. Music and DanceAlso called Chinese crescent, Chinese pavilion, jingling Johnny, pavillon Chinois, Turkish crescent. a musical percussion instrument of Turkish origin, consisting of a pole bearing a crescent-shaped metal plate, topped with a pavillon, and hung with small bells.
  7. British Terms[Chiefly Brit.]
    • a curved street, often having solid façades of unified architectural design.
    • the curve or curved portion of a street.
  8. Heraldrya representation of a crescent moon, horns upward unless otherwise specified, used as the cadency mark of a second son.

adj. 
  1. shaped like a crescent.
  2. increasing; growing.
  • Latin as above
  • Anglo-French
  • Latin crēscent- (stem of crēscēns) present participle of crēscere to grow (see create, -esce); replacing Middle English cressaunt
  • 1350–1400
cres•cen•tic  (kri sen′tik),USA pronunciation adj. 
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
crescent /ˈkrɛsənt; -zənt/ n
  1. the curved shape of the moon in its first or last quarters
  2. any shape or object resembling this
  3. chiefly Brit a crescent-shaped street, often lined with houses of the same style
  4. the crescent ⇒ (often capital)
    • the emblem of Islam or Turkey
    • Islamic or Turkish power
 adj
  1. archaic or poetic increasing or growing
Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin crescēns increasing, from crescere to grow
'crescent' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
banana - bicephalous - cirque - concrescence - Cres. - croissant - cusp - Fertile Crescent - horn - IRC - luna moth - lunate - lunette - lunula - meniscus - new moon - old moon - Red Crescent - semilunar - semilunar valve - Wood - accrescent - ashen light - barchan - bicorn - camelback truss - Chinese crescent - Chinese pavilion - crescendo - crescent truss - crew - decrease - demilune - earthshine - excrescent - excretion - gorget - half-moon - horned - increase - jingling Johnny - kilij - Luna - lunar - lune - lunular - lunulate - moon - mooned - moon knife

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