equatorial

adjective

equa·​to·​ri·​al ˌē-kwə-ˈtȯr-ē-əl How to pronounce equatorial (audio)
ˌe-kwə-
1
a
: of, relating to, or located at the equator or an equator
also : being in the plane of the equator
a satellite in equatorial orbit
b
: of, originating in, or suggesting the region around the geographic equator
2
a
: being or having a support that includes two axles at right angles to each other with one parallel to the earth's axis of rotation
an equatorial telescope mount
b
: extending in a direction essentially in the plane of a cyclic structure (as of cyclohexane)
equatorial hydrogens
compare axial

Examples of equatorial in a Sentence

a lush equatorial rain forest that is threatened by rampant development
Recent Examples on the Web As indicated by the orange and red colors, above-average temperatures persist at and near the surface in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific. Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024 Both films — one set in 1990 Quebec, the other in an equatorial African forest — are animated and in French with English subtitles. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 25 Jan. 2024 And two, last year the equatorial Pacific Ocean’s warming and cooling cycle switched from its cooler phase, known as La Niña, to its warmer one, El Niño. Matt Simon, WIRED, 12 Jan. 2024 This daily dose of sun also burns off mist from equatorial oceans and rivers, raising a belt of clouds from the planet’s midsection. Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 5 Dec. 2023 For Californians' collective mind, the weather phenomenon, defined by an eastward-moving, warmer-than-normal sea surface along the equatorial Pacific, is shaped by those traumatic, potent winters with record precipitation. Dennis Romero, NBC News, 29 Nov. 2023 But sea surface temperatures aren't running high just in El Niño's home turf in the equatorial Pacific. Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024 This means sea surface temperatures across the equatorial Pacific are expected to return to near-normal levels in the coming months. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2024 Along with the El Niño conditions over the equatorial eastern Pacific, greenhouse gas emissions are also playing a role in Earth reaching new global temperature records. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 7 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'equatorial.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of equatorial was in 1664

Dictionary Entries Near equatorial

Cite this Entry

“Equatorial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/equatorial. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

equatorial

adjective
equa·​to·​ri·​al ˌē-kwə-ˈtōr-ē-əl How to pronounce equatorial (audio)
ˌek-wə-,
-ˈtȯr-
1
: of, relating to, or located at the equator
2
: of, originating in, or suggesting the region around the equator
equatorial heat

Medical Definition

equatorial

adjective
equa·​to·​ri·​al ˌē-kwə-ˈtōr-ē-əl How to pronounce equatorial (audio) ˌek-wə- How to pronounce equatorial (audio)
-ˈtȯr-
1
: of, located at, or relating to an equator
equatorial diameter
2
: extending in a direction essentially in the plane of a cyclic structure (as of cyclohexane)
equatorial hydrogen atoms
compare axial sense 2b

More from Merriam-Webster on equatorial

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