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.
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
“The warm pool of water in the western equatorial Pacific Ocean is expanding farther to the east,” L’Heureux said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026
The Geneva-based agency said that forecasts produced by leading global climate centres, using different models, indicate a consistent and significant warming of ocean temperatures across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific.
From Barron's ● Jul. 3, 2026
Kelvin waves typically begin when wind patterns over the far western equatorial Pacific briefly reverse direction.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 15, 2026
The cows that the Bantu acquired from the tsetse-free Sahel zone failed to survive the Bantu expansion through the equatorial forest.
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.
