equinoctial
UK /ˌɛk.wɪˈnɒk.ʃəl/ · US /ˌiː.kwəˈnɑk.ʃəl/ adjective, noun
Forms equinoctials æquinoctial
- adjective (astronomy) Of or relating to the spring or autumnal equinox.
- adjective (astronomy) Of or relating to the celestial equator.
- adjective (uncommon) Equatorial: of or relating to the equator of the Earth.
- adjective (botany) Of flowers: that open and close at particular times of day.
- noun The great circle midway between the celestial poles; the celestial equator.
- noun (rare) The terrestrial equator.
- noun An equinoctial gale.
Synonyms
equinoctal equinoxial equatorial celestial equator equinoctial circle equinoctial line
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English equinoctial, equinoccial, equinoxial, from Old French equinoxial, from Latin (circulus) aequinoctiālis, from aequinoctium + -alis.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Pertaining to an equinox, or the equinoxes, or to the time of equal day and night; as, the equinoctial line.
- adjective Pertaining to the regions or climate of the equinoctial line or equator; in or near that line; as, equinoctial heat; an equinoctial sun.
- noun The equinoctial line.
Etymology [L. aequinoctials, fr. aequinoctium equinox: cf. F. équinoxial. See Equinox.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “equinoctial”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details