equatorial

[ ee-kwuh-tawr-ee-uhl, -tohr-, ek-wuh- ]
See synonyms for equatorial on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. of, relating to, or near an equator, especially the equator of the earth.

  2. of, like, or typical of the regions at the earth's equator: equatorial temperatures.

noun
  1. a telescope mounting having two axes of motion, one parallel to the earth's axis and one at right angles to it.

  2. Also called e·qua·to·ri·al tel·e·scope, e·qua·to·ri·al in·stru·ment . a telescope with such a mounting.

Origin of equatorial

1
First recorded in 1655–65; equator + -ial

Other words from equatorial

  • e·qua·to·ri·al·ly, adverb
  • non·e·qua·to·ri·al, adjective
  • non·e·qua·to·ri·al·ly, adverb
  • trans·e·qua·to·ri·al, adjective
  • trans·e·qua·to·ri·al·ly, adverb
  • un·e·qua·to·ri·al, adjective

Words Nearby equatorial

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use equatorial in a sentence

  • The bodies hung there for weeks, reeking and swelling grotesquely in the equatorial heat.

  • What appear to be good observations show that the equatorial part of its area, at least, still glows from its own heat.

    Outlines of the Earth's History | Nathaniel Southgate Shaler
  • On the equatorial side this air is moving more rapidly than it is on the polar side.

    Outlines of the Earth's History | Nathaniel Southgate Shaler
  • At the same time this descending water drifts along the bottom of the ocean troughs toward the equatorial realm.

    Outlines of the Earth's History | Nathaniel Southgate Shaler
  • Those who do not dwell in the equatorial countries emigrate every autumn, just as your birds do.

    Urania | Camille Flammarion
  • It was a full moon, and the glorious golden light of the equatorial night shone through the high trees like a new dawn.

    With Edged Tools | Henry Seton Merriman

British Dictionary definitions for equatorial

equatorial

/ (ˌɛkwəˈtɔːrɪəl) /


adjective
  1. of, like, or existing at or near the equator

  2. astronautics (of a telescope) mounted on the perpendicular axes, one of which is parallel to the earth's axis: an equatorial orbit

  1. astronomy of or referring to the celestial equator: equatorial coordinates

noun
  1. an equatorial mounting for a telescope

Derived forms of equatorial

  • equatorially, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012