equatorial

adjective

equa·​to·​ri·​al ˌē-kwə-ˈtȯr-ē-əl 

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

Synonyms

• low
• tropical

Examples of equatorial in a Sentence

a lush equatorial rain forest that is threatened by rampant development

Recent Examples on the Web

At the same time, Florida and many of its equatorial neighbors in Central America have experienced an unprecedented heat dome compounded by drought. —Cameron Driggers, Orlando Sentinel, 22 June 2024

Mars’ equatorial region hosts some of the tallest volcanoes in the solar system, with a few peaks soaring well above the height of Mount Everest. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 15 June 2024

During a La Niña, the cooler waters in the equatorial Pacific soak up heat energy from the atmosphere while air currents deflect the jet stream — a narrow, high-altitude band of fast-moving air — pushing it northward. —Umair Irfan, Vox, 1 May 2024

The mission will visit more than 30 locations within Titan's equatorial region, according to a presentation by Elizabeth Turtle, Dragonfly's principal investigator at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. —Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 22 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing equatorial

• equatorial plane
• equatorial plate

Kids Definition

equatorial

adjective

equa·​to·​ri·​al ˌē-kwə-ˈtōr-ē-əl 

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  ˌek-wə- 

-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