\Lu"nar\, 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}.
{Lunar observation}, an observation of a lunar distance by
   means of a sextant or circle, with the altitudes of the
   bodies, and the time, for the purpose of computing the
   longitude.
{Lunar tables}.
   (a) (Astron.) Tables of the moon's motions, arranged for
       computing the moon's true place at any time past or
       future.
   (b) (Navigation) Tables for correcting an observed lunar
       distance on account of refraction and parallax.
{Lunar year}, the period of twelve lunar months, or 354 days,
   8 hours, 48 minutes, and 34.38 seconds.

\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}.