colure

[ kuh-loor, koh-, koh-loor ]

noun

, Astronomy.

1. either of two great circles of the celestial sphere intersecting each other at the poles, one passing through both equinoxes and the other through both solstices.

colure

/ kəˈlʊə; ˈkəʊlʊə /

noun

1. either of two great circles on the celestial sphere, one of which passes through the celestial poles and the equinoxes and the other through the poles and the solstices

Word History and Origins

Origin of colure¹

1540–50; < Late Latin colūrus < Greek kólouros dock-tailed, equivalent to kól ( os ) docked + -ouros -tailed, adj. derivative of ourá tail; so called because the lower part is permanently hidden beneath the horizon

Word History and Origins

Origin of colure¹

C16: from Late Latin colūrī (plural), from Greek kolourai cut short, dock-tailed, from kolos docked + oura tail; so called because the view of the lower part is curtailed

Example Sentences

He is now advancing among the stars, and will soon be again upon the equinoctial colure.

From Project Gutenberg

Then if the Earth's pole look to E, the �quinoxes are at D, C. Let this be at the time of Metho, when the horns of Aries were in the �quinoctial colure.

From Project Gutenberg

Let F B G be the half of the Arctick circle described round the pole of the Zodiack: A B C the solstitial colure: A the pole of the Zodiack; D E the anomaly of longitude 140 minutes at either side on both ends: B C the anomaly of obliquity 24 minutes: B the greater obliquity of 23 degrees 52 minutes: D the mean obliquity of 23 degrees 40 minutes: C the minimum obliquity of 23 degrees 28 minutes.

From Project Gutenberg

One of these circles, passing through the first point of Aries and Libra in the ecliptic, is called equinoctial colure: the other circle, passing consequently between the first point of Cancer and Capricorn, is called solstitial colure.

From Project Gutenberg

Coluri or the Colures, which are two circles in the heavenly sphere, passing through the poles of the world and cutting each other at right angles: the one passes through the equinoctial points of Aries and Libra and is called Colurus Aequinoctiorum or equinoctial colure; the other touches the solstitialia of Cancer and Capricorn and is called Colurus Solstitiorum or solstitial colure.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ring
• sphere