English Reference

Word

moon

Phoneticsmoon

US/ˈmun/

UK/mˈuːn/

Countable noun

Definition

n. the large, round object that circles the Earth and shines in the sky at night. It changes shape throughout the month as it reflects light from the sun.

n. the natural satellite of the Earth, visible by reflection of sunlight. When capitalised, it refers specifically to Earth's satellite; when lowercase, it can refer to any natural satellite orbiting a planet.

Examples

“The moon looks very bright tonight.”

“Ancient sailors used the position of the moon and stars to navigate across the open ocean at night.”

“The gravitational pull of the moon is the primary force driving the ebb and flow of the Earth's tides, a cycle that has shaped coastal ecosystems for millions of years.”

Examples

simple

“The moon looks very bright tonight.”

contextual

“Ancient sailors used the position of the moon and stars to navigate across the open ocean at night.”

complex

“The gravitational pull of the moon is the primary force driving the ebb and flow of the Earth's tides, a cycle that has shaped coastal ecosystems for millions of years.”

Usage

Usually used with the definite article 'the'. Capitalised as 'the Moon' in astronomical contexts to distinguish it from the moons of other planets.

Pitfall

I can see moon

I can see the moon

As a unique celestial body, it almost always requires the definite article 'the'.

Etymology

From Middle English Mone, mone, from Old English mōna, from Proto-West Germanic mānō, from Proto-Germanic mēnô, from Proto-Indo-European mḗh₁n̥s (“moon, month”), from meh₁- (“to measure”). Doublet of Máni.

* A variant of Mohan, from Irish. * A habitational name of Norman origin from Moyon in La Manche. Compare Mounce. * Americanized form of German Mohn or a similar surname. * A variant of Mun, from Korean. * A variant Romanization of Chinese 文 (Wén), 萬 /万 (Wàn), and 滿 /满 (Mǎn). * Possibly from Cantonese 滿 /满 (mun⁵, “full; complete”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

ADJECTIVE

Related words

Idioms

Domain

Mythology

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
Frequency
Common
Level
A2 · ElementaryOxford
Updated

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