Crescent Meaning
/ˈkɹɛz.ənt/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Definition
nounThe 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.
nounSomething shaped like a crescent, especially:, A curved pastry.
Sentence Examples
Synonyms & Antonyms
Word Origin & History
From Middle English cressaunt, from Anglo-Norman cressaunt and Old French creissant (“crescent of the moon”) (French croissant), from Latin crēscēns, present active participle of crēscō (“arise, thrive”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱreh₁- (“to grow”). See Old Armenian սերիմ (serim, “be born”) and սերեմ (serem, “bring forth”), Ancient Greek κόρη (kórē, “girl”) and κούρος (koúros, “boy”), Latin creāre (“produce, create, bring forth”) and Ceres (“goddess of agriculture”). Doublet of croissant. The pronunciation with /z/ is a comparatively recent innovation due to the influence of words such as pheasant and present.