equatorial
Americanadjective
-
of, relating to, or near an equator, especially the equator of the earth.
-
of, like, or typical of the regions at the earth's equator.
equatorial temperatures.
noun
-
a telescope mounting having two axes of motion, one parallel to the earth's axis and one at right angles to it.
-
Also called equatorial instrument. Also called equatorial telescope. a telescope with such a mounting.
adjective
-
of, like, or existing at or near the equator
-
astronautics (of a telescope) mounted on the perpendicular axes, one of which is parallel to the earth's axis
an equatorial orbit
-
astronomy of or referring to the celestial equator
equatorial coordinates
noun
Other Word Forms
- equatorially adverb
- nonequatorial adjective
- nonequatorially adverb
- transequatorial adjective
- transequatorially adverb
- unequatorial adjective
Etymology
Origin of equatorial
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
WMO scientific officer John Kennedy said global weather is still under the influence of La Nina, a naturally occurring climate phenomenon that cools surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean.
From Barron's • Mar. 23, 2026
According to the researchers in Mainz, monitoring wind conditions, sea surface temperatures, and associated upwelling patterns in the equatorial Atlantic can help refine predictions of future Sargassum growth.
From Science Daily • Nov. 19, 2025
For example, the researchers predicted that heat waves lasting 35 days or longer in equatorial Africa will happen 60 times more often from 2020 to 2044 than they did from 1990 to 2014.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 10, 2025
The authors compared their work with imagery of Mars in the equatorial southern highlands, which is heavily cratered but also full of valley networks.
From Salon • May 16, 2025
We were back in the equatorial forest, but at least this time we had a trail to follow.
From "Endangered" by Eliot Schrefer
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
