crescent

[/ˈkrɛsənt/]
noun, adjectivepl: crescents
crescente, lua crescente, meia-lua
1. The shape of the moon in its first or last quarter, appearing as a curved line with pointed ends
The crescent moon hung beautifully in the night sky.
A lua crescente brilhava lindamente no céu noturno.
2. Any object or shape resembling a crescent
The architect designed a crescent-shaped plaza for the city center.
O arquiteto projetou uma praça em forma de crescente para o centro da cidade.
3. A curved street or row of buildings arranged in a crescent shape
They lived on a beautiful crescent in the historic part of town.
Eles moravam em um belo crescente na parte histórica da cidade.
4. Increasing or growing, as in a crescent moon
The crescent popularity of the new restaurant surprised everyone.
A crescente popularidade do novo restaurante surpreendeu a todos.
In Brazilian culture, the crescent moon holds symbolic meaning in literature and popular culture. The term 'meia-lua' (half-moon) is also used colloquially. In architecture, crescent-shaped streets and plazas are notable urban design features in both Brazilian and Portuguese cities, reflecting classical urban planning.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
half-mooncurved shapearcbow
Antonyms / Antônimos
full moonstraight linewaning

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
crescente, lua crescente, meia-lua
Standard term used throughout Brazil for the crescent moon and crescent shapes
Rio de Janeiro
crescente
Common usage; also used for describing architectural features
São Paulo
meia-lua, crescente
Both terms are widely used; meia-lua more common in informal speech
Portugal
crescente, meia-lua
Similar usage to Brazilian Portuguese; crescente is more formal

Related Words

lunarmoonphaseastronomicalcurvedarcwaxing

Related Idioms & Phrases

crescent moon
crescent-shaped
waxing crescent
waning crescent
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