equatorial
Americanadjective
-
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.
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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
- equatorially adverb
- nonequatorial adjective
- nonequatorially adverb
- transequatorial adjective
- transequatorially adverb
- unequatorial adjective
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.
La Niña typically brings wetter conditions to parts of Australia, Indonesia and equatorial South America, and drier conditions to the southern United States.
From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026
As we move from Mars's equatorial region toward its northern latitudes, we encounter Coloe Fossae.
From Science Daily • Nov. 26, 2025
The weather service's Varilla said that higher numbers of cyclones typically accompany La Nina, a naturally occurring climate pattern that cools surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean.
From Barron's • Nov. 4, 2025
For example, the researchers predicted that heat waves lasting 35 days or longer in equatorial Africa will happen 60 times more often from 2020 to 2044 than they did from 1990 to 2014.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 10, 2025
New Guinea’s equatorial climate varies only modestly from season to season and year to year, but Australia’s climate is highly seasonal and varies from year to year far more than that of any other continent.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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.
