What does luna mean?
Luna is a Latin-derived English noun with several related uses. Most notably, it is the name of the Roman goddess of the Moon; in this sense, Luna is a proper noun and is normally capitalized. In older, literary, or deliberately archaic English, luna can also mean the Moon itself, lending a poetic or mystical tone that the ordinary word moon does not carry. The compound luna moth names a large, pale green moth with long hindwing tails, recognized especially in eastern North America. Thus, the word can denote a divine personification, a celestial body, or the insect in its established compound name. Its relationship to lunar, lunacy, and lunation reflects the common Latin root for the Moon. Although luna and lunar may sometimes be confused, they are not interchangeable: luna is chiefly a name or a poetic noun, while lunar is the standard adjective meaning “of or relating to the Moon.”
nounLuna is the Roman goddess of the Moon and, in archaic or poetic usage, a name for the Moon itself. The name is also used in the established term luna moth, a large, pale green moth with long hindwing tails.
- The Roman goddess of the Moon.
- The Moon itself, especially in archaic or poetic usage.
- The luna moth, a large, pale green moth with long hindwing tails.
"A luna moth rested on the porch lamp, its delicate hindwing tails trailing behind it."
"The artist placed an image of Luna on the ceiling of the observatory."
"A luna moth rested on the porch lamp, its delicate hindwing tails trailing behind it."
Rare in ordinary use. Luna as the Roman goddess is normally treated as a singular proper noun, and the moth is more commonly pluralized in the compound luna moths.
"Several lunas circled the porch light."
Luna is a Roman moon goddess, a poetic name for the Moon, and the namesake of a pale green moth with dramatic tails.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does luna come from?
English luna comes from Latin lūna, meaning “the Moon” and serving as the name of the Roman moon goddess. The Latin word belongs to an Indo-European root associated with shining or light. Related English words formed from the same Latin element include lunar, lunacy, lunatic, and lunation.
How luna is actually used
Luna is normally capitalized when referring to the Roman goddess. Lowercase luna in the sense of the Moon is literary, archaic, or stylized, while luna moth is the established name of the insect and is usually written with lowercase luna.
Easily confused with luna
Luna is chiefly a proper name or a poetic noun, whereas lunar is the standard adjective meaning “of or relating to the Moon.”