moonwalk
moonwalk — noun
1. a period of movement on foot across the lunar surface, carried out by astronauts
a period of movement on foot across the lunar surface, carried out by astronauts during a space mission
The Apollo 11 astronauts completed the first moonwalk in July 1969.
collocation: first moonwalk
Astronaut Priya used a long-handled scoop to gather lunar dust during her moonwalk.
collocation: during her moonwalk
Commander Chen's moonwalk took her past a crater over rocky ground under the black sky.
The two astronauts stepped onto the dusty surface and began their moonwalk.
Astronaut Aiko stepped carefully around sharp rocks to reach the sampling site during her moonwalk.
- lunar excursion
more technical, used in NASA documentation; less common in everyday language
- space walk
broader term — includes any time outside a spacecraft, not only on the moon's surface
用法筆記
This sense is restricted to space-exploration contexts. It is almost always used with a specific mission reference (Apollo, Artemis) or with an astronaut as the subject.
常見錯誤
2. a dance move in which the performer slides backward while seeming to walk forwar
a dance move in which the performer slides backward while seeming to walk forward, creating the illusion of gliding effortlessly across the floor
The dancer's moonwalk was so smooth that the audience gasped in surprise.
collocation: smooth moonwalk
Leila practiced the moonwalk for weeks before performing it at the talent show.
Michael Jackson introduced the moonwalk to the world during a television special in 1983.
On the dance floor, Hana broke into a smooth moonwalk that had the crowd gasping.
At the wedding party, Ravi pulled off a perfect moonwalk that made everyone cheer.
- backslide
technical dance term for a similar backward-gliding step; less widely known outside dance communities
- glide step
broader term for any smooth sliding dance move; less specific than moonwalk
用法筆記
This sense is used almost exclusively to refer to the specific dance step popularized by Michael Jackson. It can be modified by adjectives like smooth, perfect, or famous. The verb 'do' or 'perform' commonly pairs with this noun sense.
常見錯誤
moonwalk — verb
1. to move across a surface by sliding the feet backward in a smooth motion while k
to move across a surface by sliding the feet backward in a smooth motion while keeping the upper body facing forward, often done as a show of skill or for entertainment
Theo tried to moonwalk across the kitchen floor but slipped on a rug.
intransitive + adverbial: moonwalk across [place]
At the block party, Kofi moonwalked backward while his friends cheered loudly.
intransitive: moonwalk + direction adverb
The dance instructor showed the class how to moonwalk with smooth, controlled footwork.
At the street dance battle, Ravi moonwalked across the concrete floor and the crowd erupted.
Zane moonwalked across the stage during the final chorus and the crowd went wild.
用法筆記
This verb is almost always used intransitively. It can be followed by an adverb of direction (backward, across the floor) but does not take a direct object. Frequently used with ability verbs like 'can' or 'learn to'.