interlunation
Definition
- Noun:
- Period of no moon: "interlunation" refers to the time during a lunar month when the moon is not visible in the night sky, specifically the interval between the old moon and the new moon.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The interlunation lasts for about one to two days each month. (The period without a visible moon occurs briefly during the lunar cycle.)
- Ancient farmers often scheduled planting around the interlunation to avoid dark nights. (They timed agricultural activities based on the moon's absence.)
Advanced Usage
"during interlunation": a phrase indicating the specific time of lunar invisibility.
- Sailors rarely set out during interlunation because of the lack of moonlight. (They avoided travel when the sky was darkest.)
"the interlunation of the month": a reference to the predictable, recurring dark period in the lunar calendar.
- The interlunation of the month is a quiet time for nocturnal animals. (It is a period of natural darkness.)
Variants and Related Words
Interlunar (adj): relating to or occurring during interlunation.
- The interlunar sky was filled with stars. (The sky during the moonless period was especially bright with stars.)
Lunation (n): the period of time from one new moon to the next (a lunar month).
- A lunation lasts about 29.5 days. (This is the full cycle of lunar phases.)
Synonyms
- Dark moon: the phase when the moon is not visible.
- New moon: technically the moment the moon is aligned with the sun, but often used to refer to the invisible period.
Phrasal Verbs
Related Idioms