ˈlu:nə adj. 1
of, relating
to, or
determined by
the moon. 2
concerned with travel to the moon
and related research. 3 (of
light,
glory, etc.) pale,
feeble. 4 crescent-shaped,
lunate. 5 of or containing
silver (from alchemists'
use of luna (= moon)
for 'silver'). ølunar
caustic silver
nitrate,
esp. in stick
form. lunar
cycle = METONIC CYCLE. lunar
distance the
angular distance of the moon
from the
sun, a
planet, or a
star, used in
finding longitude at
sea. lunar
module a
small craft used for travelling
between the moon's
surface and a
spacecraft in
orbit around the moon. lunar
month 1 the
period of the moon's
revolution, esp. the
interval between
new moons of
about 29Ì days. 2 (in
general use) a period of
four weeks. lunar nodes the points at
which the moon's orbit cuts the
ecliptic. lunar
observation the finding of longitude by lunar distance. lunar orbit 1 the orbit of the moon
round the
earth. 2 an orbit round the moon. lunar
year a period of 12 lunar months. [L lunaris f. luna moon]
