one of the four principal phases of the moon, occurring between new moon and full moon, when half of the lighted surface is visible
Compare last quarter
first quarter in American English
1.
the time of month between new moon and first half-moon
2.
the phase of the moon after the waxing crescent when only the right half of its face, when viewed from the Northern Hemisphere, reflects sunlight to the earth
Examples of 'first quarter' in a sentence
first quarter
It became obvious after the first quarter of an hour that they were not going direct to St Blaise.
Hilton, John Buxton MOONDROP TO MURDER (2002)
"When somebody draws five fouls in the first quarter, what's the first thing you think.