crescent

Meanings

Plural: crescents

Noun

any shape resembling the curved shape of the moon in its first or last quarters
The 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.
Something shaped like a crescent, especially:
A curved pastry.
Something shaped like a crescent, especially:
A curved street, often presenting a continuous façade, as of row houses.
Something shaped like a crescent, especially:
A representation of a crescent, used as a symbol of Islam.
Something shaped like a crescent, especially:
The emblem of the waxing moon with horns directed upward, when used in a coat of arms; often used as a mark of cadency to distinguish a second son and his descendants.
A crescent spanner.
Any of three orders of knighthood conferred upon foreigners to whom Turkey might be indebted for valuable services.
A crescentspot butterfly.

Adjective Satellite

resembling the new moon in shape

Adj

marked by an increase; waxing, like the Moon.
Shaped like a crescent.

Verb

To form a crescent shape
To decorate with crescents.

Origin / Etymology

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.

Synonyms

crescent roll, crescent-shaped, croissant, lunate, semilunar

Antonyms

gibbous

Scrabble Score: 12

crescent is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
crescent is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
crescent is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 15

crescent is a valid Words With Friends word