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

What the local newspaper called a “stiff breeze,” the national Daily Mail called “equinoctial gales.”

From Seattle Times

One bright and fragrant spring day—as if on a wild equinoctial whim—Holmes suggested that Minnie invite her sister to Chicago to see the world’s fair, at his expense.

From Literature

The inner bark of that red willow is the main ingredient used to make tobacco for the equinoctial Sacred Pipe ceremony, which is meant to rekindle the sacred fire of life on Earth.

From National Geographic

Soon, he recalls, he reached out through the pages of the Baker Street Journal and began to correspond with other young readers all over the world, seeking “companionship amid the equinoctial gales of early adolescence.”

From Washington Post

Hipparchus, whose work primarily took place between 147 and 127 B.C., proposed dividing the day into 24 equinoctial hours, based on the 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness observed on equinox days.

From Salon