moon
gb/mˈun/ us/mˈun/
A1
English
~ 2900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
entity
1
Earth's natural satellite
The round object in the sky that moves around the Earth and shines at night.
Usage pattern:
the [adjective] moon
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'moon' with 'month' because of similar pronunciation in some languages.
Synonyms
satellite (A more general term for any object orbiting a planet, not specific to Earth's moon.)
Antonyms
sun (The central star of the solar system, opposite in nature and appearance to the Moon.)
Collocations
full moon
|crescent moon
|bright moon
|lunar moon
|moonlight
Themes
science
|astronomy
|nature
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The full moon lit up the whole valley.
- We watched the moon rise over the ocean.
- Astronauts first landed on the moon in 1969.
- The crescent moon hung low in the sky.
Learner examples
- The moon is bright tonight.
- I can see the full moon.
- The moon is round.
- We looked at the moon.
Noun
B1
entity
2
Natural satellite of a planet
A round object that goes around another planet, like Jupiter's moons.
Usage pattern:
[planet]'s [number] moons
Synonyms
satellite (General term for an orbiting body, either natural or artificial.)
Antonyms
planet (A large body orbiting a star, not a smaller satellite.)
Collocations
Jupiter's moons
|Saturn's moons
|orbiting moon
Themes
science
|astronomy
|space
Examples
- Jupiter has more than seventy known moons.
- Saturn's largest moon is Titan.
- Scientists discovered a new moon around Neptune.
Learner examples
- Jupiter has many moons.
- Titan is a moon of Saturn.
- Mars has two moons.
Verb
informal
B2
action
3
Expose bare buttocks as a joke
To pull down your pants and show your bottom to someone as a joke or to be rude.
Usage pattern:
to moon [someone]
Synonyms
flash (More general term meaning to show body parts suddenly; not limited to buttocks.)
Collocations
moon someone
|get mooned
Themes
humor
|slang
|social
|communication
|relationships
|daily_life
Examples
- The teenagers mooned the passing bus.
- He was arrested for mooning the crowd.
- They laughed after someone mooned their friends.
Learner examples
- He mooned his friend as a joke.
- The boys mooned the bus driver.
- She mooned the camera.
Verb
literary
C1
action
4
Daydream or pine for something
To think about something you want in a dreamy way instead of doing other things.
Usage pattern:
to moon over [someone/something]
Synonyms
yearn (Stronger emotional intensity; not necessarily idle daydreaming.)
Antonyms
focus (To concentrate fully on something rather than daydreaming.)
Collocations
moon over someone
|moon about all day
Themes
emotions
|romance
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He spent the afternoon mooning over his lost love.
- She mooned about the house all day, thinking of her vacation.
- Instead of working, he just sat there mooning over old memories.
Learner examples
- He moons over his old girlfriend.
- She moons about her trip to Paris.
- I moon over my dream job.
Grammar
Dictionary form
moon
IPA
GB/mˈun/
US/mˈun/
Syllables & stress
moon (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (moon)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: moon
- Plural: moons
Verb
- Base: moon
- 3rd Person Singular: moons
- Present Participle: mooning
- Past: mooned
Word family
Expressions
over the moon
1/ˈoʊvɚ ðə mˈun/
idiom
informal
Extremely happy or pleased
Very happy about something.
Examples
- She was over the moon when she got the job.
- They were over the moon about their wedding plans.
promise the moon
1/pɹˈɑməs ðə mˈun/
idiom
Make unrealistic promises
To say you will give someone wonderful things that are not possible to give.
Examples
- Politicians often promise the moon during campaigns.
- He promised her the moon if she would marry him.
many moons ago
1/mˈɛni mˈunz əɡˈoʊ/
idiom
informal
a long time ago
A long time ago.
Examples
- We first met many moons ago.
- Many moons ago, this was all farmland.
- This happened many moons ago, before you were born.
shoot for the moon
1/ʃˈut fɚ ðə mˈun/
idiom
informal
try for something very hard to get
To try to get something that is very hard or almost impossible.
Examples
- Even if we shoot for the moon and fail, we'll still land among the stars.
- He decided to shoot for the moon with his first business idea.
shoot for the moon
2/ʃˈut fɚ ðə mˈun/
idiom
Aim for a very high goal
To try to do something that is very hard to achieve.
Examples
- You should shoot for the moon with your new project.
- They are shooting for the moon with this ambitious plan.
once in a blue moon
1/wˈʌns ˈɪn ə blˈu mˈun/
idiom
informal
Happening very rarely
Something that happens very rarely.
Examples
- We go hiking together once in a blue moon.
- We go out for a fancy dinner once in a blue moon.
- He only eats dessert once in a blue moon.
- He calls me once in a blue moon, so I’m always surprised.
once in a blue moon
2/wˈʌns ˈɪn ə blˈu mˈun/
idiom
Happens very rarely
Something that happens only on rare occasions.
Examples
- We go out for dinner once in a blue moon.
- He only calls me once in a blue moon.
once in a blue moon
3/wˈʌns ˈɪn ə blˈu mˈun/
idiom
Happening very rarely
Happening only one time in a long time.
Examples
- We go out for dinner once in a blue moon.
- He visits his parents once in a blue moon.