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