Increasing; growing: specifically applied to the moon during its first quarter, when its visible portion is increasing in area, in the curved form called a crescent (see II.).Shaped like the appearance of the moon during its first quarter.n. The period of apparent growth or increase of the moon in its first quarter: as, the moon is in its crescent.n. The increasing part of the moon in its first quarter, or the similarly shaped decreasing part in its last quarter, when it presents a bow of light terminating in points or horns: as, the crescent of the moon.n. The moon itself in either its first or its last quarter; the new or the old moon.n. Something in the shape of the crescent moon; a crescent-shaped object, construction, device, or symbol.n. In heraldry, a bearing in the form of a young or new moon, usually borne horizontally with the horns uppermost. See decrescent and increscent.n. In architecture, a range of buildings in the form of a crescent or half-moon: as, Lansdowne Crescent in London.n. A Turkish military musical instrument with bells or jingles.n. A defect in a horse's foot, when the coffin-bone falls down.n. In lace-making, a cordonnet of considerable projection inclosing part of the pattern of point-lace, giving it relief, and separating it from the ground or from other parts of the pattern.n. A small roll of bread of various kinds, made in the form of a crescent.To form into a crescent.To surround partly in a semicircular or crescent form.n. n. The curved, sausage-shaped gametocyte of Laverania, the parasite of pernicious *malaria (which see, with cut).n. In certain extinct cardioid pelecypods, a lunate flattening of the shell-surface just behind the beaks. It specially characterizes the Devonian genus Honeoyea.n. In the extinct trimerellid brachiopods, a curved and narrow muscular scar on each valve just within the cardinal margin.n. In plate-armor, one of the small pieces of steel used to protect joints. See gusset .
