first quarter

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Explanation of "First Quarter"

Definition: The term "first quarter" refers to a specific phase of the moon's cycle. It is the time when the moon appears as a half-circle in the sky. This happens about a week after the new moon.

Usage Instructions

• As a Noun: "First quarter" is used as a countable noun. You can say "the first quarter of the moon" or simply "the first quarter."

Example Sentence

• "Tonight we can see the first quarter of the moon shining brightly in the sky."

Advanced Usage

• In astronomy or discussions about the moon's phases, "first quarter" can be used to describe events or phenomena, like eclipses or tides, that occur during this phase.

Word Variants

• Related Terms: "New moon" (the phase before the first quarter) and "full moon" (the phase after the first quarter).

Different Meanings

• In Business or Finance: "First quarter" can also refer to the first three months of the year in a financial context. For example, the first quarter of the year is January, February, and March.

Synonyms

• For the moon phase: "Half moon" (though this is more informal)
• In a business context: "Q1" (short for Quarter 1)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

• There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs that directly relate to "first quarter," but you might hear phrases like "get off to a good start" when discussing the first quarter of a year in business.

Summary

The "first quarter" is an important term related to both astronomy and finance. In the moon's cycle, it describes when the moon is half-illuminated, while in business, it refers to the beginning of the year.

Academic

Noun

1. the first fourth of the Moon's period of revolution around the Earth