Library / English Dictionary

EQUINOCTIAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The great circle on the celestial sphere midway between the celestial poles

Synonyms:

celestial equator; equinoctial; equinoctial circle; equinoctial line

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Hypernyms ("equinoctial" is a kind of...):

great circle (a circular line on the surface of a sphere formed by intersecting it with a plane passing through the center)

Derivation:

equinoctial (relating to the vicinity of the equator)

 II. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Pertainym:

equinox (either of two times of the year when the sun crosses the plane of the earth's equator and day and night are of equal length)

Derivation:

equinox (either of two times of the year when the sun crosses the plane of the earth's equator and day and night are of equal length)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Relating to the vicinity of the equator

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Pertainym:

equator (an imaginary line around the Earth forming the great circle that is equidistant from the north and south poles)

Derivation:

equinoctial (the great circle on the celestial sphere midway between the celestial poles)

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