equinoctial

[ ee-kwuh-nok-shuh l, ek-wuh- ]

/ ˌi kwəˈnɒk ʃəl, ˌɛk wə- /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR equinoctial ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

pertaining to an equinox or the equinoxes, or to the equality of day and night.

pertaining to the celestial equator.

occurring at or about the time of an equinox.

Botany. (of a flower) opening regularly at a certain hour.

noun

celestial equator.

equinoctial storm.

Words nearby equinoctial

equine encephalitis, equine herpesvirus, equine infectious anaemia, equine influenza, equine metritis, equinoctial, equinoctial circle, equinoctial line, equinoctial point, equinoctial rains, equinoctial storm

Origin of equinoctial

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin aequinoctiālis pertaining to the equinox. See equinox, -al¹

OTHER WORDS FROM equinoctial

in·ter·e·qui·noc·tial, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for equinoctial

The points were directed eastward, the two outside showing the two solstitial points, and that in the centre the equinoctial.
Ancient America, in Notes on American Archaeology|John D. Baldwin
I feel as fit as a fiddle, and believe the equinoctial gales at their worst would be none too much for me.
The Incomparable 29th and the "River Clyde"|George Davidson
About the hour of equinoctial sunset comes a periodic respite in the shape of dinner.
The Posthumous Works of Thomas De Quincey, Vol. II (2 vols)|Thomas De Quincey
He that travels by sea or land, towards the equinoctial, gradually acquires motion; from it, loses.
The Complete Works in Philosophy, Politics and Morals of the late Dr. Benjamin Franklin, [Vol 2 of 3]|Benjamin Franklin

Sri Yukteswar discovered the mathematical application of a 24,000-year equinoctial cycle to our present age.
Autobiography of a YOGI|Paramhansa Yogananda

British Dictionary definitions for equinoctial

equinoctial

/ (ˌiːkwɪˈnɒkʃəl) /

adjective

relating to or occurring at either or both equinoxes

(of a plant) having flowers that open and close at specific regular times

astronomy of or relating to the celestial equator

noun

a storm or gale at or near an equinox

another name for celestial equator

Word Origin for equinoctial

C14: from Latin aequinoctiālis concerning the equinox

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