Definition

Noun: A period of time approximately equal to the duration of 12 complete cycles of the Moon's phases (lunar months). It is a calendar system based on the Moon's orbit around the Earth, typically consisting of about 354 or 355 days, which is roughly 11 days shorter than a solar year.

Usage

The term "lunar year" is used to describe a year measured by the Moon's cycles, which is the basis for various traditional calendars. - It is often contrasted with the solar year used in the Gregorian calendar. - Many cultural and religious holidays are scheduled according to a lunar year or a lunisolar calendar.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The Chinese New Year marks the beginning of a new lunar year.
  • The Islamic calendar is based purely on the lunar year, so its months shift relative to the seasons.
  • A lunar year is significantly shorter than the astronomical year defined by the Earth's orbit around the Sun.

Advanced Usage

• "The Lunar New Year": A specific holiday celebrating the start of a new year in lunisolar calendars, most notably in East Asian cultures.
  • Millions of people travel home to celebrate the Lunar New Year with their families.

Variants and Related Words

• Lunar month (n): The period from one new moon to the next, approximately 29.5 days. This is the fundamental unit of a lunar year.
• Lunisolar year (n): A calendar year that is adjusted periodically (e.g., by adding an intercalary month) to synchronize the lunar months with the solar year. Many traditional calendars, like the Hebrew and Chinese calendars, use a lunisolar system.
• Synodic month (n): Another term for a lunar month, based on the cycle of the Moon's phases.

Synonyms

• Moon year: A less common, direct synonym.
• Lunar cycle (of a year): Emphasizes the cyclical nature.

Related Phrases

• "To keep a lunar calendar": To use a calendar system based on the lunar year.
  • Some religious communities keep a lunar calendar to determine the dates of festivals.

Related Idioms

• "A year and a day": While not exclusively lunar, this idiom from common law sometimes relates to the completion of a full cycle, conceptually similar to marking a full set of lunar phases.
  • The contract was for a year and a day to ensure a full cycle of seasons. (Note: This idiom is included for conceptual relation to completing a cycle, though it is not directly about a lunar year.)

Noun

1. a period of 12 lunar months