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, 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.
These measurements come from the region of the equatorial Pacific used to monitor El Niño.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
El Nino warms surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, bringing worldwide changes in winds, pressure and rainfall patterns.
From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026
El Niño is a climate pattern marked by unusual warmth in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, and results in changes to the atmosphere that, typically, lead to above-average precipitation in Southern California.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 11, 2026
Polo is the latest in a busy Pacific storm season turbo-charged by the El Nino weather phenomenon that has caused unprecedented warming in the equatorial Pacific.
From Barron's ● Sep. 29, 2026
Africa is the only continent to extend from the northern to the southern temperate zone, while also encompassing some of the world’s driest deserts, largest tropical rain forests, and highest equatorial mountains.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
