the equator
noun
: an imaginary circle around the middle of the Earth that is the same distance from the North Pole and the South Pole
The city of Quito, Ecuador, lies very close to the equator.
Examples of the equator in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
La Niñas often follow intense El Niños because of a phenomenon known as discharge, when heat on the equator migrates toward the poles and cold deep-ocean waters rise to take its place.
—
Bloomberg, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2024
As a population explosion is poised to happen around the equator, where the effects of climate change will be harshest, a protein that grows in extreme environments could be critical.
—Claire Turrell, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024
The seasons in the astronomical calendar are determined by the tilt of our planet and the alignment of the sun with the equator.
—Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 24 Feb. 2024
The spring equinox is when the sun crosses the celestial equator — an imaginary line that lines up with the equator on Earth — and the northern hemisphere tilts more often toward the sun.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 23 Jan. 2024
It will be best observed in the northern hemisphere, particularly closer to the equator such as in Ecuador, Mexico, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, according to Star Walk.
Arizona, being located at mid-northern latitudes, should offer decent viewing conditions for observing the devil comet.
—The Arizona Republic, 27 Mar. 2024
La Niña, when winds near the equator blow away from the Americas and cause colder water to rise to the surface, is also expected to develop during the upcoming hurricane season.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2024
This continent was near the equator and had a dry and warm climate.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 7 Mar. 2024
Their location may offer a clue: The site—situated near the equator, on the eastern side of Africa’s Great Rift Valley—occupies a low-lying basin surrounded by highlands, per the statement.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Feb. 2024
Bloomberg, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2024
As a population explosion is poised to happen around the equator, where the effects of climate change will be harshest, a protein that grows in extreme environments could be critical.
—Claire Turrell, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024
The seasons in the astronomical calendar are determined by the tilt of our planet and the alignment of the sun with the equator.
—Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 24 Feb. 2024
The spring equinox is when the sun crosses the celestial equator — an imaginary line that lines up with the equator on Earth — and the northern hemisphere tilts more often toward the sun.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 23 Jan. 2024
It will be best observed in the northern hemisphere, particularly closer to the equator such as in Ecuador, Mexico, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, according to Star Walk.
Arizona, being located at mid-northern latitudes, should offer decent viewing conditions for observing the devil comet.
—The Arizona Republic, 27 Mar. 2024
La Niña, when winds near the equator blow away from the Americas and cause colder water to rise to the surface, is also expected to develop during the upcoming hurricane season.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2024
This continent was near the equator and had a dry and warm climate.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 7 Mar. 2024
Their location may offer a clue: The site—situated near the equator, on the eastern side of Africa’s Great Rift Valley—occupies a low-lying basin surrounded by highlands, per the statement.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'the equator.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near the equator
Cite this Entry
“The equator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20equator. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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