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Glite Dictionary
equinoctial circle

equinoctial circle

9.9
An imaginary circle across the sky midway between the north and south poles
  • noun
  • /ˌɛkwɪˈnɒkʃəl ˈsɜrkl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : círculo ecuatorial
  • The path of the Sun crosses the equinoctial circle at the equinoxes.

Examples

  • Ancient astronomers used the equinoctial circle as a reference when charting the stars.

  • The equinoctial circle divides the sky into northern and southern hemispheres.

  • The equinoctial circle divides the sky into northern and southern hemispheres.

  • Can you explain the significance of the equinoctial circle?

  • Ancient astronomers used the equinoctial circle as a reference when charting the stars.

  • The equinoctial circle divides the sky into northern and southern hemispheres.

  • The path of the Sun crosses the equinoctial circle at the equinoxes.

Synonyms

celestial equator
vsequinoctial circle
  • Specialized
1 8.5

An imaginary circle around the sky above Earth's equator

is the same circle but referred to by another technical name
equinoctial
vsequinoctial circle
  • Specialized
9.9

A circle in the sky halfway between the sky's north and south poles

is identical in meaning but serves as an alternate name
equinoctial line
vsequinoctial circle
  • Specialized
9.9

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

is the same circle but uses a different traditional term

Surface Forms

equinoctial circle singular
equinoctial circles plural

Morphology

equinoctial + circle

The term is compositionally built from 'equinoctial' (relating to the equinox or celestial equator) + 'circle' (a round line), so its meaning as a circle associated with the equinox/celestial equator is directly derivable. It is a technical astronomical label but the semantic relation is transparent and paralleled in other languages, so a learner who knows both constituents would infer the meaning.

Etymology

Equinoctial circle comes from old Latin words that mean 'equal' and 'night', and its parts are equinoctial and circle. It names the large circle in the sky that lines up with Earth's equator. At the equinoxes the Sun crosses this circle and day and night are nearly equal, so the name links the circle to 'equal night'.