moon
moon
Pronunciation
Moon: /muːn/
muun:
/m/ - voiced bilabial nasal
/uː/ - close back rounded vowel (long "oo" sound)
/n/ - voiced alveolar nasal
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: moon
Plural: moons
Verb:
Base form: moon
Third-person singular present: moons
Past tense: mooned
Past participle: mooned
Present participle: mooning
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition: The natural satellite of the Earth, appearing in the sky as a luminous orb, which orbits our planet and reflects sunlight, visible in varying phases throughout a month.
Synonyms: lunar body, satellite, orb, celestial body
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for a celestial body; perhaps "Earth" in the context of being distinct)
Definition: A calendar month, especially as measured by the phases of the moon.
Synonyms: month, lunar cycle, synodic period
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms)
Verb
Definition: To wander or idle about listlessly or dreamily, often with a romantic or sentimental air.
Synonyms: daydream, loaf, languish, saunter, gaze
Antonyms: hustle, rush, work, strive, act
Definition: (Slang, vulgar) To expose one's bare buttocks to someone as a joke or insult.
Synonyms: flash, bare, expose, display
Antonyms: conceal, cover, hide
Examples of Use
Books:
"It was a dark and stormy night; the moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas." (Alfred Noyes, The Highwayman)
"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the moon." (Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere's Fan)
"Fly me to the moon and let me play among the stars..." (Bart Howard, "Fly Me to the Moon" lyrics)
Newspapers:
"NASA's Artemis program aims to return humans to the Moon by the end of the decade, marking a significant step in lunar exploration." (The New York Times)
"Astronomers observed an unusually large and bright 'super moon' last night, captivating stargazers across the country." (The Guardian)
Online Publications:
"Could a new mission discover water ice reserves on the moon's south pole, paving the way for future lunar bases?" (Space.com)
"The recent full moon coincided with a meteor shower, creating a spectacular celestial display for those who stayed up late." (EarthSky.org)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: In Apollo 13, the astronauts famously declare, "Houston, we have a problem," during their perilous journey to the moon. (Universal Pictures)
Music: Pink Floyd's iconic album The Dark Side of the Moon explores themes of life, death, and mental illness. (EMI Records)
Television Series: "The Mandalorian" often features characters traveling between planets and moons in a distant galaxy. (Disney+, 2019-present)
Video Game: Players in Kerbal Space Program can design rockets to reach and land on various celestial bodies, including their own in-game "Mun" (a parody of the Moon). (Squad)
General Public Discourse:
"Did you see the beautiful harvest moon last night? It was so big and orange!" (Casual conversation)
"My friend has been mooning over that new car for weeks; I think they're finally going to buy it." (Informal conversation)
"Some conspiracy theorists still believe the moon landing was faked, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary." (Online forum discussion)
"After a long day, I just want to sit on the porch and moon at the stars." (Personal reflection)
10 Quotes Using Moon
"That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." (Neil Armstrong, upon stepping on the Moon, July 1969)
"Fly me to the moon and let me play among the stars." (Bart Howard, "Fly Me to the Moon," 1954)
"Everyone is a moon, and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody." (Mark Twain)
"Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass." (Anton Chekhov)
"The moon is a loyal companion. It never leaves. It's always there, watching, steadfast, knowing us in our light and dark moments, changing forever just as we do." (Tahereh Mafi, Shatter Me)
"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the moon." (Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere's Fan)
"Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth." (Buddha)
"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars." (Les Brown)
"Do not swear by the moon, for she changes constantly. then your love would also change." (William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet)
"I love you to the moon and back." (Sam McBratney, Guess How Much I Love You)
Etymology
The word "moon" comes from a very old root word that almost all Germanic languages (like English, German, and Dutch) share. This root word is connected to the idea of "measuring time." Think about how the moon goes through its phases, which helps us keep track of months.
The earliest known form of the word in English was "mōna," which appeared in Old English (the language spoken in England before the Norman Conquest in 1066). Its meaning was pretty much the same as today: referring to the Earth's natural satellite. So, from its very beginning, "moon" has been linked to that bright orb in the sky that helps us mark the passage of time.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Moon
Once in a blue moon: Very rarely.
Over the moon: Extremely happy.
Many moons ago: A long time ago.
Promise the moon: To promise something impossible or impractical.
Reach for the moon: To aim for something very ambitious.
Moonlighting: Working a second job, often secretly, especially at night.
To moon over someone/something: To be in a dreamy, often unrequited, romantic state about someone or to be excessively fond of something.
Howling at the moon: To complain or express anger futilely or to act in a wild, unrestrained way.
A moon shot: An extremely ambitious project or undertaking, often with a low probability of success, but with high potential rewards.
Shoot the moon: In some card games, to attempt to win all tricks or achieve a challenging objective.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of moon from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
