equinoctial

[ ee-kwuh-nok-shuhl, ek-wuh- ]

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

1. celestial equator.
2. equinoctial storm.

equinoctial

/ ˌiːkwɪˈnɒkʃəl /

adjective

1. relating to or occurring at either or both equinoxes
2. (of a plant) having flowers that open and close at specific regular times
3. astronomy of or relating to the celestial equator

noun

1. a storm or gale at or near an equinox
2. another name for celestial equator

equinoctial

/ ē′kwə-nŏk′shəl,ĕk′wə- /

Adjective

1. Relating to an equinox.
2. Relating to the celestial equator.

Noun

1. See celestial equator

Other Words From

• inter·equi·noctial adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of equinoctial¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin aequinoctiālis pertaining to the equinox. See equinox, -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of equinoctial¹

C14: from Latin aequinoctiālis concerning the equinox

Example Sentences

Nor is the equinoctial heat more discouraging to them than the accumulated winter of both the poles.

From Project Gutenberg

I don't know if you remember that equinoctial gale that blew about the 18th or 19th.

From Project Gutenberg

She plunged into the chilly equinoctial darkness as the clock struck ten, for her fifteen miles' walk under the steely stars.

From Project Gutenberg

The next afternoon we crossed the equinoctial line in longitude 21 degrees 50 minutes west.

From Project Gutenberg

The 'kids' are two little stars which first rise in the evening towards the end of September, during the equinoctial gales.

From Project Gutenberg