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(l"nr), a.[L. lunaris, fr. luna the moon. See Luna, and cf. Lunary.] 1. Of or pertaining to the moon; as, lunar observations. 2. Resembling the moon; orbed. Dryden. 3. Measured by the revolutions of the moon; as, a lunar month. 4. Influenced by the moon, as in growth, character, or properties; as, lunar herbs. Bacon. Lunar caustic (Med. Chem.), silver nitrate prepared to be used as a cautery; -- so named because silver was called luna by the ancient alchemists. Lunar cycle. Same as Metonic cycle. See under Cycle. Lunar distance, the angular distance of the moon from the sun, a star, or a planet, employed for determining longitude by the lunar method. Lunar method, the method of finding a ship's longitude by comparing the local time of taking (by means of a sextant or circle) a given lunar distance, with the Greenwich time corresponding to the same distance as ascertained from a nautical almanac, the difference of these times being the longitude. Lunar month. See Month. Lu Lu"nar n. 1. (Astron.) A lunar distance. 2. (Anat.) The middle bone of the proximal series of the carpus; -- called also semilunar, and intermedium. スポンサード リンク
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