EQUATOR Definition & Meaning

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equator

[ ih-kwey-ter ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the great circle on a sphere or heavenly body whose plane is perpendicular to the axis, equidistant everywhere from the two poles of the sphere or heavenly body.
the great circle of the earth that is equidistant from the North Pole and South Pole.
a circle separating a surface into two congruent parts.
celestial equator.

equator

/ ɪˈ��ɱ�ɪ��ə /

noun

the great circle of the earth with a latitude of 0°, lying equidistant from the poles; dividing the N and S hemispheres
a circle dividing a sphere or other surface into two equal symmetrical parts
See magnetic equator
astronomy See celestial equator

equator

/ ĭ-��′��ə�� /

An imaginary line forming a great circle around the Earth's surface, equidistant from the poles and in a plane perpendicular to the Earth's axis of rotation. It divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern hemispheres and is the basis from which latitude is measured.
A similar circle on the surface of any celestial body.
The celestial equator.

equator

An imaginary circle around the Earth , equidistant from the North Pole and South Pole .

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of equator¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin ��ٴǰ�, Latin: equalizer (of day and night, as when the sun crosses the equator). See equate, -tor

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of equator¹

C14: from Medieval Latin ( circulus ) ��ٴǰ� ( diei et noctis ) (circle) that equalizes (the day and night), from Latin �� to make equal

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

For countries on the equator, where daylight hours stay roughly the same throughout the year, daylight saving offers no real benefit.

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There’s a simple reason, he says: He’s making chocolate in Los Angeles rather than near the equator.

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Millions of years ago the UK was located further south towards the equator and was much warmer with parts of the country submerged - creating the ideal conditions for these rock types to form.

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"Playing ice hockey on the equator is not easy," the Canadian told the BBC.

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Take, for example, the potential for a major slowdown in the Atlantic Ocean’s conveyor belt of currents that regulate temperatures, distributing heat from the equator to the poles, and vice versa.

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