/ English Dictionary

MOONLIGHT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The light of the Moon

Example:

the Moon was bright enough to read by

Synonyms:

Moon; moonlight; moonshine

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural phenomena

Hypernyms ("moonlight" is a kind of...):

light; visible light; visible radiation ((physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation)

Meronyms (parts of "moonlight"):

moon-ray; moon ray; moonbeam (a ray of moonlight)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Work a second job, usually after hours

Example:

The law student is moonlighting as a taxi driver

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "moonlight" is one way to...):

do work; work (be employed)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

moonlighter (a person who holds a second job (usually after hours))

Credits

 Context examples: 

A voice replied, telling him to keep out of the moonlight or he would get some lead in him, and at the same time a bullet whistled close by his arm.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Nine-and-seventy Alleyne counted of these dark figures flitting across the line of the moonlight.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

About two in the morning I was seated by the window, all being dark save for the moonlight outside, when I heard steps behind me, and there was my wife in her dressing-gown.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A moment later the servants’ door was opened, and Mr. Joseph Harrison stepped out into the moonlight.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the house was silvered over and almost as bright as day.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

They found the ashes scattered by the wind, but the peas and lentils had sprouted, and grown sufficiently above the ground, to guide them in the moonlight along the path.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

It was a moonlight night, and about one o'clock Flo and I were waked by the most delicious music under our windows.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Harriet was very ready to speak of the share he had had in their moonlight walks and merry evening games; and dwelt a good deal upon his being so very good-humoured and obliging.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

But it does not signify, the nights are moonlight, and we shall do delightfully.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Here are many that would be interested in your improvements, my dear Mr. Rushworth, and that would like to hear Mr. Crawford's opinion on the spot, and that might be of some small use to you with their opinions; and, for my own part, I have been long wishing to wait upon your good mother again; nothing but having no horses of my own could have made me so remiss; but now I could go and sit a few hours with Mrs. Rushworth, while the rest of you walked about and settled things, and then we could all return to a late dinner here, or dine at Sotherton, just as might be most agreeable to your mother, and have a pleasant drive home by moonlight.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

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