Skip to main content
equinoctial

equinoctial

9.8
Happening at the time when day and night are about equal length
  • adjective
  • /ˌɛkwɪˈnɒkʃəl/
translation icon : equinoccial
  • Above the pale line of unleafed cottonwoods along the stream and the reddish stems of salt cedar that crowd the banks, the Canyon's cliffs lift into the morning's equinoctial light.

Examples

  • The equinoctial period marks the arrival of spring when day and night are of equal length.

  • Many animals exhibit unique behaviors during the equinoctial transition between seasons.

  • The equinoctial equinox occurs around March 21st, signaling the start of spring in the northern hemisphere.

Compounds

equinoctial circle
  • Specialized
9.9

An imaginary circle across the sky midway between the north and south poles

equinoctial line
  • Specialized
9.9

An imaginary line in the sky that matches Earth's equator and divides the sky into north and south

equinoctial point
  • Specialized
9.9

A point in the sky where the Sun crosses the Earth's equator at spring or autumn equinox

A strong rainstorm that happens around the spring or autumn equinox

equinoctial year
  • Specialized
8.6

The time Earth takes to go from one spring equinox to the next, about 365.24 days

Surface Forms

equinoctial positive

Morphology

equinoctial = equinox (transparent) = equinox + ial

Clear adjectival derivation from the noun 'equinox' with the productive suffix '-ial' giving 'relating to the equinox'.

Etymology

Equinoctial comes from the Latin parts aequus 'equal' and nox 'night', just like the word equinox. So equinoctial means 'happening when day and night are equal', which is why it describes events at the equinox.