equator
nounUK /ɪˈkweɪ.tə/ · US /ɪˈkweɪ.tɚ/
Etymology From Late Latin (circulus) aequator (diei et noctis).
1
Geography, Natural sciences An imaginary great circle around Earth, equidistant from the two poles, and dividing earth's surface into the northern and southern hemispheres.
Often “the Equator”
- Baishui is about as close to the equator as Tampa, Florida.2018, VOA Learning English > China's Melting Glacier Brings Visitors, Adds to Climate Concerns:
2
Astronomy, Natural sciences A similar great circle on any sphere, especially on a celestial body, or on another reasonably symmetrical three-dimensional body.
3
The midline of any generally spherical object, such as a fruit or vegetable, that has identifiable poles.
- Slice the onion through the equator.
4
The celestial equator.
- Derived terms
- celestial equator, equatorial, Equatorial Guinea, equatorial telescope, equatorward, equatorwards, magnetic equator, palaeoequator, paleoequator