equinoctial Hear it!

equinoctial Definition

equi·noc·tial (ē′kwi näk′s̸həl)

adjective

  1. relating to either of the equinoxes or to equal periods of day and night
  2. occurring at or about the time of an equinox
  3. equatorial

Etymology: ME & OFr equinoxial < L aequinoctialis

noun

  1. celestial equator
  2. a storm occurring at or about the time of an equinox

equinoctial Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • gale: Very long and very severe were the equinoctial gales that year.
  • tide: This was as a result of the equinoctial spring tides with the water percolating through the bed of the lagoon.
  • sun: SCOTT We'll climb that tomorrow, yes, in time to see the equinoctial sun pierce the two spiral carvings with daggers of light.
  • point: He had determined the latitude of the Observatory, the obliquity of the ecliptic, and the position of the equinoctial points.
  • asymmetry: A mechanism for the equinoctial asymmetries in the thermosphere and ionosphere will be discussed.
  • storm: Is it too soon to say that we have escaped any equinoctial storms?