Moonbeam

//ˈmun.bim// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A ray or shaft of moonlight.

    "Holonym: moonlight"

  2. 2
    a ray of moonlight wordnet
  3. 3
    Any of various Australasian lycaenid butterflies of the genus Philiris.
  4. 4
    Someone who tends to be dreamy and prone to unrealistic romanticism.

    "While you're responding to the dithering confusing Lynda is causing in the bus depot, you're absorbing the emotions between mother and child. Darcy is often very grownup around her mother, as if she knew that Lynda is a bit of a moonbeam and needs looking after."

  5. 5
    A goal or aspiration that appears attractive but is ultimately insubstantial.

    "Therefore it has always seemed clear to me, and that has been the decision of the Senate for many years before when we have had these questions stoutly contested, that where the direction (which is legislation, of course, just as the appropriation is) is confined to the appropriation, to the expenditure of the money appropriated, which can not be paid out of the Treasury without the consent of Congress, Congress may say that it shall be paid for moonbeams, if it pleases, although the Constitution of the United States itself might say that no money should be paid for buying moonbeams."

Etymology

Compound of moon + beam.

Next best steps

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: moonbeam