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equinoctial

 - 7 dictionary results

e⋅qui⋅noc⋅tial

  [ee-kwuh-nok-shuhl, ek-wuh-]
Use equinoctial in a Sentence
–adjective
1. pertaining to an equinox or the equinoxes, or to the equality of day and night.
2. pertaining to the celestial equator.
3. occurring at or about the time of an equinox.
4. Botany. (of a flower) opening regularly at a certain hour.
–noun
5. celestial equator.
6. equinoctial storm.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < L aequinoctiālis pertaining to the equinox. See equinox, -al 1

celestial equator

 
–noun Astronomy, Navigation.
the great circle of the celestial sphere, lying in the same plane as the earth's equator.
Also called equator, equinoctial, equinoctial circle, equinoctial line.

Origin:
1870–75

equinoctial storm

 
–noun
a storm of violent winds and rain occurring at or near the time of an equinox and popularly, but erroneously, believed to be physically associated with it.
Also called equinoctial, line gale, line storm.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To equinoctial
celestial equator  
n.  A great circle on the celestial sphere in the same plane as the earth's equator. Also called equinoctial, equinoctial circle.
e·qui·noc·tial   (ē'kwə-nŏk'shəl, ěk'wə-)   
adj.  

  1. Relating to an equinox.

  2. Relating to the celestial equator.

n.  

  1. A violent storm of wind and rain occurring at or near the time of the equinox.

  2. See celestial equator.


[Middle English equinoxial, from Old French, from Latin aequinoctiālis, from aequinoctium, equinox; see equinox.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Science Dictionary
celestial equator  
A great circle separating the northern and southern hemispheres of the celestial sphere and lying in the same plane as the Earth's equator. The celestial equator is a projection of the Earth's equator outward onto the celestial sphere and is used as the reference point in determining a celestial body's declination.
equinoctial   (ē'kwə-nŏk'shəl, ěk'wə-)  Pronunciation Key 
Adjective  

  1. Relating to an equinox.

  2. Relating to the celestial equator.


Noun   See celestial equator.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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