Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A ray of moonlight.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A ray of light from the moon.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A ray of light from the moon.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a ray of moonlight

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

In Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream 1590. Compound of moon and beam.

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Examples

  • That Englishman belongs to a somewhat exclusive group of people who are able to travel what some call the moonbeam roads.

    The Dreamthief's Daughter Moorcock, Michael, 1939- 2001

  • The heart of a moonbeam is a pretty enough Friendship's-Album expression -- let it pass, though I do think the figure a little strained; but humility has no tint, humility has no complexion, and if it had it could not mantle the earth.

    Christian Science Mark Twain 1872

  • Brown is known to be unorthodox - he earned the moniker "governor moonbeam" during his first stint as governor from 1975 to 1983 - and he urged legislators to "rise above ideology and partisan interest" after taking the oath of office in January.

    SFGate: Top News Stories By MICHAEL R. BLOOD 2011

  • I think, "continued he, addressing himself particularly to me," you informed me that the husband of poor Lavinia lies buried in yonder church-yard; and perhaps the very tomb which now glistens by the moonbeam is the one which consecrates his memory!

    Bibliomania; or Book-Madness A Bibliographical Romance Thomas Frognall Dibdin 1811

  • April 23rd, 2010 3: 33 pm ET this is a case of two bad rino's running against an even Worse demorap candidate in Jerry 'moonbeam' Brown ... we in California lose no matter what.

    Poizner attacks Whitman in new TV ad 2010

  • Instead, after a year out, he opted for Scottish giants Rangers, where chairman David Murray promised a "moonbeam" of success.

    NEWS.com.au | Top Stories 2010

  • "Back in those 'moonbeam' days of the '70s," he said, referring to the nickname he was given as governor, "three percent of California's state general fund went to prisons.

    PE Angels Baseball 2009

  • It's full of cliches and puppy dog/moonbeam tales.

    Shawn Amos: PLAY > SKIP: New Music for Oct. 19 Shawn Amos 2010

  • It's full of cliches and puppy dog/moonbeam tales.

    Shawn Amos: PLAY > SKIP: New Music for Oct. 19 Shawn Amos 2010

  • Too bad you can't do the same to your ex vp candidate. moonbeam

    McCain drills AARP for backing Medicare cuts 2009

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