lunar month

American  

[loo-ner muhnth] / ˈlu nər ˈmʌnθ /

noun

1. month.

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lunar month British  

noun

1. another name for synodic month See month

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lunar month Scientific  

1. The average time between successive occurrences of the same phase of the Moon, equal to approximately 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes. Depending on the lunar calendar being used, a lunar month can begin with the new moon or the full moon.

2. Also called lunation synodic month

3. ◆ A period of 12 lunar months is a lunar year.

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Etymology

Origin of lunar month

First recorded in 1585–95

Example Sentences

Held on the last full-moon day of the lunar month, the festival sees people smearing bright colours on friends and family and offering prayers.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2024

According to the International Canoe Federation, the first known dragon boat races were held in China during the fifth lunar month of the Chinese calendar more than 2,000 years ago.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 14, 2022

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright started the tradition 18 years ago of America's top diplomat hosting a public event for Ramadan, a lunar month.

From Reuters • May 26, 2017

The Maya did not attempt to correlate their calendar accurately with the length of the year or lunar month.

From Textbooks • Oct. 13, 2016

But the lunar month is between 29 and 30 days long.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife