equatorial
Americanadjective
-
of, relating to, or near an equator, especially the equator of the earth.
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of, like, or typical of the regions at the earth's equator.
equatorial temperatures.
noun
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a telescope mounting having two axes of motion, one parallel to the earth's axis and one at right angles to it.
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Also called equatorial instrument. Also called equatorial telescope. a telescope with such a mounting.
adjective
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of, like, or existing at or near the equator
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astronautics (of a telescope) mounted on the perpendicular axes, one of which is parallel to the earth's axis
an equatorial orbit
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astronomy of or referring to the celestial equator
equatorial coordinates
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of equatorial
Vocabulary lists containing equatorial
South America - Middle School
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South America - Introductory
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South America - High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It inflated northern regions and compressed equatorial ones, making Europe and North America appear much larger, while shrinking Africa and South America.
From Barron's ● Sep. 4, 2026
Reaching that threshold requires temperatures in the equatorial Pacific to be at least 3.6 degrees above baseline.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
Their analysis showed that a broad area of iron-rich fluid below the equatorial Pacific shifted from a weak westward flow to a strong eastward flow in 2010.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 7, 2026
They combined those findings with previously published evidence from the equatorial Atlantic, the North Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 6, 2026
When a charged particle bounces from one magnetic pole to the other, it must cross the equatorial plane of Saturn.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
