equatorial

[ee-kwuh-tawr-ee-uh l, -tohr-, ek-wuh-]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR equatorial ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

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.

a telescope with such a mounting.

RELATED WORDS

tropic, central, torrid

Nearby words

Origin of equatorial

First recorded in 1655–65; equator + -ial

Related forms

e·qua·to·ri·al·ly, adverbnon·e·qua·to·ri·al, adjectivenon·e·qua·to·ri·al·ly, adverbtrans·e·qua·to·ri·al, adjective

trans·e·qua·to·ri·al·ly, adverbun·e·qua·to·ri·al, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for equatorial

The bodies hung there for weeks, reeking and swelling grotesquely in the equatorial heat.
Top 10 Clues DeLay Was Born to Dance|Lloyd Grove|August 17, 2009|DAILY BEAST
These conditions must increase the earth's equatorial bulge and thereby cause changes in the distribution of land and water.
Climatic Changes|Ellsworth Huntington
It overhangs the equatorial calm-belt, as has been stated, and it travels north and south with it.
Memoirs of Service Afloat, During the War Between the States|Raphael Semmes
Such, at least, was the experience of our hero while he travelled in the equatorial regions of South America.
Lost in the Forest|R.M. Ballantyne

This fraction is denominated the ellipticity of the earth,—being the excess of the equatorial over the polar diameter.
Letters on Astronomy|Denison Olmsted
This style of mounting is known as the equatorial, and is almost always used for astronomical telescopes.
The Catholic World, Vol. X, October 1869|Various

British Dictionary definitions for equatorial

equatorial

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 axisan equatorial orbit

astronomy of or referring to the celestial equatorequatorial coordinates

noun

an equatorial mounting for a telescope

Derived Formsequatorially, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for equatorial

equatorial

adj.

1660s, from equator + -al (1).