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equatorial
5 dictionary results for: equatorial
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
e·qua·to·ri·al       [ee-kwuh-tawr-ee-uhl, -tohr-, ek-wuh-] Pronunciation Key
–adjective
1.of, pertaining to, or near an equator, esp. the equator of the earth.
2.of, like, or typical of the regions at the earth's equator: equatorial temperatures.
–noun
3.a telescope mounting having two axes of motion, one parallel to the earth's axis and one at right angles to it.
4.a telescope with such a mounting.
[Origin: 1655–65; equator + -ial]

—Related forms
e·qua·to·ri·al·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
e·qua·to·ri·al       (ē'kwə-tôr'ē-əl, -tōr'-, ěk'wə-)  Pronunciation Key 
adj.  
    1. Of, relating to, or resembling the earth's equator.
    2. Relating to conditions that exist at the earth's equator: equatorial heat.
  2. Having or constituting a support with two perpendicular axes, one of which is parallel to the earth's rotational axis.

n.   An equatorial telescope.

e'qua·to'ri·al·ly adv.
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
equatorial

adjective
1. of or relating to or at an equator; "equatorial diameter" 
2. of or relating to conditions at the geographical equator; "equatorial heat" 
3. of or existing at or near the geographic equator; "equatorial Africa" [ant: polar] 

noun
1. a telescope whose mounting has only two axes of motion, one parallel to the Earth's axis and the other one at right angles to it 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Equatorial

E`qua*to"ri*al\, a. [Cf. F. ['e]quatorial.] Of or pertaining to the equator; as, equatorial climates; also, pertaining to an equatorial instrument.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Equatorial

E`qua*to"ri*al\, n. (Astron.) An instrument consisting of a telescope so mounted as to have two axes of motion at right angles to each other, one of them parallel to the axis of the earth, and each carrying a graduated circle, the one for measuring declination, and the other right ascension, or the hour angle, so that the telescope may be directed, even in the daytime, to any star or other object whose right ascension and declination are known. The motion in right ascension is sometimes communicated by clockwork, so as to keep the object constantly in the field of the telescope. Called also an equatorial telescope.

Note: The term equatorial, or equatorial instrument, is sometimes applied to any astronomical instrument which has its principal axis of rotation parallel to the axis of the earth.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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