EQUINOCTIAL

equinoctial

(adjective) relating to an equinox (when the lengths of night and day are equal)

equinoctial

(adjective) relating to the vicinity of the equator

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adjective

equinoctial (not comparable)

(astronomy) Of or relating to the spring or autumnal equinox.

(astronomy) Of or relating to the celestial equator.

(uncommon) Equatorial: Of or relating to the equator of the Earth.

Synonyms

• (relating to the equinox): (uncommon) equinoctal, (archaic) equinoxial

• (relating to the terrestrial equator): See equatorial

Noun

equinoctial (plural equinoctials)

The great circle midway between the celestial poles; the celestial equator.

(rare) The terrestrial equator.

Source: Wiktionary


E`qui*noc"tial, a. Etym: [L. aequinoctials, fr. aequinoctium equinox: cf. F. équinoxial. See Equinox.]

1. Pertaining to an equinox, or the equinoxes, or to the time of equal day and night; as, the equinoctial line.

2. Pertaining to the regions or climate of the equinoctial line or equator; in or near that line; as, equinoctial heat; an equinoctial sun.

3. Pertaining to the time when the sun enters the equinoctial points; as, an equinoctial gale or storm, that is, one happening at or near the time of the equinox, in any part of the world. Equinoctial colure (Astron.), the meridian passing through the equinoctial points.

– Equinoctial line (Astron.), the celestial equator; -- so called because when the sun is on it, the nights and days are of equal length in all parts of the world. See Equator. Thrice the equinoctial line He circled. Milton. - Equinoctial points (Astron.), the two points where the celestial and ecliptic intersect each other; the one being in the first point of Aries, the other in the first point of Libra.

– Equinoctial time (Astron.) reckoned in any year from the instant when the mean sun is at the mean vernal equinoctial point.

E`qui*noc"tial, n.

Definition: The equinoctial line.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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