EQUINOX DEFINITIONS - 10 definitions found
equinox n 1: either of two times of the year when the sun crosses the plane of the earth's equator and day and night are of equal length 2: (astronomy) either of the two celestial points at which the celestial equator intersects the ecliptic [syn: equinoctial point}, equinox] Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition (2003) equinox noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French or Medieval Latin; Anglo-French equinocce, from Medieval Latin equinoxium, alteration of Latin aequinoctium, from aequi- equi- + noct-, nox night — more at night Date: 14th century 1. either of the two points on the celestial sphere where the celestial equator intersects the ecliptic 2. either of the two times each year (as about March 21 and September 23) when the sun crosses the equator and day and night are everywhere on earth of approximately equal length Oxford English Reference Dictionary
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner\'s English Dictionary equinox (equinoxes) An equinox is one of the two days in the year when day and night are of equal length. In the Chinese calendar, the Spring Equinox always occurs in the second month. N-COUNT: oft supp N English Explanatory Dictionary equinox ˈi:kwɪnɔks n. 1 the time or date (twice each year) at which the sun crosses the celestial equator, when day and night are of equal length. 2 = equinoctial point. øautumn (or autumnal) equinox about 22 Sept. spring (or vernal) equinox about 20 March. [ME f. OF equinoxe or med.L equinoxium for L aequinoctium (as EQUI-, nox noctis night)] English-Old English dictionary equinox Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) Equinox \E"qui*nox\, n. [OE. equinoxium, equenoxium, L. aequinoctium; aequus equal + nox, noctis, night: cf. F. ['e]quinoxe. See Equal, and Night.] 1. The time when the sun enters one of the equinoctial points, that is, about March 21 and September 22. See Autumnal equinox, Vernal equinox, under Autumnal and Vernal. When descends on the Atlantic The gigantic Stormwind of the equinox. --Longfellow. 2. Equinoctial wind or storm. [R.] --Dryden. Soule\'s Dictionary of English Synonyms equinox n. Equinoctial point, intersection of the equator and the ecliptic. Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 34 Moby Thesaurus words for "equinox": aphelion, apogee, astronomical longitude, autumnal equinox, celestial equator, celestial longitude, celestial meridian, circle, colures, ecliptic, equator, equinoctial, equinoctial circle, equinoctial colure, galactic longitude, geocentric longitude, geodetic longitude, great circle, heliocentric longitude, longitude, meridian, orbit, perigee, perihelion, period, small circle, solstice, solstitial colure, summer solstice, trajectory, vernal equinox, winter solstice, zodiac, zone |
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