Lunar Meaning
/ˈl(j)uːnə/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjOf, pertaining to, or resembling the Moon (that is, Luna, the Earth's moon).
adjShaped like a crescent moon; lunate.
Sentence Examples
A lunar month is shorter than a calendar month.
In China, they celebrate New Year by the lunar calendar.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The spacecraft carefully entered ____ orbit around the moon before landing on its surface.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ eclipse was a spectacular event that was visible from many parts of the world last night.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English lunar (“shaped like the crescent moon”), from Latin lūnāris (“of or pertaining to the moon, lunar”) (possibly through Middle French lunaire (modern French lunaire (“lunar”)), from lūna (“the Moon; crescent shape”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *lewk- (“bright; to shine”)) + -is (suffix forming adjectives).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"By two lunar obſervations the long[itude] was 9° 57′ 30″ E. agreeing within 37′ by the watch, though the day before the long. by moon and watch differed 2° 35′."
— 1774 September, “A Voyage towards the North Pole, Undertaken by His Majesty’s Command in 1773. By Constantine John Phipps. 4to. Nourse.”, in Sylvanus Urban [pseudonym; Edward Cave], editor, The Gentleman’s Magazine, and Historical Chronicle, volume XLIV, London: Printed […], for D[avid] Henry, and sold by F[rancis] Newbery, […], →OCLC, paragraph 25, page 421, column 2:
"Lunar eclipſes are not quite ſo complicated in theory, nor near ſo tedious and difficult in calculation, as ſolar ones. The latter are only apparent, the former really ſuch; that is, the Moon is really deprived of its light, and therefore muſt appear obſcured to all the inhabitants of the earth equally, by whom ſhe can be ſeen; whereas the Sun, not being deficient in light, will ever appear reſplendent to thoſe who do not happen to live on that part of the earth where the lunar ſhadows pass."
— 1782, Blith Hancock, “Section I. Of the Doctrine of Eclipses.”, in The Doctrine of Eclipses, both Solar and Lunar; Containing Short and Easy Precepts for Computing Solar and Lunar Eclipses. […], Norwich, Norfolk: Printed by J. Crouse, for the author, and sold by M. Booth, […], →OCLC, page 8:
"You know nothing about fixing the lunar rays into a ſolid ſubſtance, but you muſt not therefore ſay that this is impoſſible. It can be done, and I can do it. Theſe rays, reduced to a ſubtle powder, and blown on the ſurface of the infant brain, ſtimulate it in future life, by their quality of pricking."
— 1783, “the Man of the People” [pseudonym; William Thomson], “I Leave the Service of the Apothecary, and Enter into that of the Lunar Sovereign”, in The Man in the Moon; or, Travels into the Lunar Regions, volume I, London: Printed for J[ohn] Murray, […], →OCLC, page 104:
"The transformation of primitive lunar deities into solar or heavenly gods are often associated with the transfer of magical and priestly functions to the men and the development of male priesthoods. [...] Or again, in Peru, the official cult of the lunar deity at Cuzco was served by colleges of priestesses, while the service of the Sun-god was performed by male priests."
— 1927, Robert Briffault, “The Magical Origin of Queens”, in The Mothers: A Study of the Origins of Sentiments and Institutions, volume III, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company, →OCLC, page 1:
"Ahead the flanks of the Pennines gleamed faintly in the moonlight, looking as though they themselves were part of some dry and deserted lunar landscape."
— 1960 January, G. Freeman Allen, “"Condor"—British Railways' fastest freight train”, in Trains Illustrated, page 48:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The spacecraft carefully entered ____ orbit around the moon before landing on its surface.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ eclipse was a spectacular event that was visible from many parts of the world last night.