Lunar month

Lunar month
Lunar Lu"nar (l[=u]"n[~e]r), a. [L. lunaris, fr. luna the moon. See {Luna}, and cf. {Lunary}.] 1. Of or pertaining to the moon; as, lunar observations. [1913 Webster]

2. Resembling the moon; orbed. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

3. Measured by the revolutions of the moon; as, a lunar month. [1913 Webster]

4. Influenced by the moon, as in growth, character, or properties; as, lunar herbs. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

{Lunar caustic} (Med. Chem.), silver nitrate prepared to be used as a cautery; -- so named because silver was called luna by the ancient alchemists.

{Lunar cycle}. Same as {Metonic cycle}. See under {Cycle}.

{Lunar distance}, the angular distance of the moon from the sun, a star, or a planet, employed for determining longitude by the {lunar method}.

{Lunar method}, the method of finding a ship's longitude by comparing the local time of taking (by means of a sextant or circle) a given lunar distance, with the Greenwich time corresponding to the same distance as ascertained from a nautical almanac, the difference of these times being the longitude.

{Lunar month}. See {Month}.

{Lunar observation}, an observation of a lunar distance by means of a sextant or circle, with the altitudes of the bodies, and the time, for the purpose of computing the longitude.

{Lunar tables}. (a) (Astron.) Tables of the moon's motions, arranged for computing the moon's true place at any time past or future. (b) (Navigation) Tables for correcting an observed lunar distance on account of refraction and parallax.

{Lunar year}, the period of twelve lunar months, or 354 days, 8 hours, 48 minutes, and 34.38 seconds. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Lunar month — Month Month (m[u^]nth), n. [OE. month, moneth, AS. m[=o]n[eth], m[=o]na[eth]; akin to m[=o]na moon, and to D. maand month, G. monat, OHG. m[=a]n[=o]d, Icel. m[=a]nu[eth]r, m[=a]na[eth]r, Goth. m[=e]n[=o][thorn]s. [root]272. See {Moon}.] One of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • lunar month — ► NOUN 1) a month measured between successive new moons (roughly 291 / 2 days). 2) (in general use) four weeks …   English terms dictionary

  • lunar month — n. see MONTH (sense 3) …   English World dictionary

  • lunar month — n a period of 28 or 29 days between one ↑new moon and the next …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • lunar month — noun count the period of about 28 days during which the moon goes through all of its PHASES (=changes in appearance) while moving around the Earth …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Lunar month — Animation of the Moon as it cycles through its phases, as seen from the Northern Hemisphere. The apparent wobbling of the Moon is known as libration. In lunar calendars, a lunar month is the time between two identical syzygies (new moons or full… …   Wikipedia

  • lunar month — noun the period between successive new moons (29.531 days) • Syn: ↑moon, ↑lunation, ↑synodic month • Hypernyms: ↑month • Part Holonyms: ↑lunar year * * * ˌlunar ˈmonth [ …   Useful english dictionary

  • lunar month — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms lunar month : singular lunar month plural lunar months astronomy a period of about 28 days during which the moon goes through all of its phases (= changes in appearance) while moving around the Earth …   English dictionary

  • lunar month — month (def. 5). [1585 95] * * * …   Universalium

  • lunar month — noun a) a period from one new moon until the next. b) a synodic month of approximately 29.53 days, measured from a lunar phase until the return of that same phase. Syn: lunation, synodic month …   Wiktionary

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