'Equinoctial line' definitions:

Definition of 'equinoctial line'

From: WordNet
noun
The great circle on the celestial sphere midway between the celestial poles [syn: celestial equator, equinoctial circle, equinoctial line, equinoctial]

Definition of 'Equinoctial line'

From: GCIDE
  • Equinoctial \E`qui*noc"tial\, a. [L. aequinoctials, fr. aequinoctium equinox: cf. F. ['e]quinoxial. See Equinox.]
  • 1. Pertaining to an equinox, or the equinoxes, or to the time of equal day and night; as, the equinoctial line. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Pertaining to the regions or climate of the equinoctial line or equator; in or near that line; as, equinoctial heat; an equinoctial sun. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Pertaining to the time when the sun enters the equinoctial points; as, an equinoctial gale or storm, that is, one happening at or near the time of the equinox, in any part of the world. [1913 Webster]
  • Equinoctial colure (Astron.), the meridian passing through the equinoctial points.
  • Equinoctial line (Astron.), the celestial equator; -- so called because when the sun is on it, the nights and days are of equal length in all parts of the world. See Equator. [1913 Webster]
  • Thrice the equinoctial line He circled. --Milton.
  • Equinoctial points (Astron.), the two points where the celestial and ecliptic intersect each other; the one being in the first point of Aries, the other in the first point of Libra.
  • Equinoctial time (Astron.) reckoned in any year from the instant when the mean sun is at the mean vernal equinoctial point. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'equinoctial line'

From: GCIDE
  • Equator \E*qua"tor\, n. [L. aequator one who equalizes: cf. F. ['e]quateur equator. See Equate.]
  • 1. (Geog.) The imaginary great circle on the earth's surface, everywhere equally distant from the two poles, and dividing the earth's surface into two hemispheres. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Astron.) The great circle of the celestial sphere, coincident with the plane of the earth's equator; -- so called because when the sun is in it, the days and nights are of equal length; hence called also the equinoctial, and on maps, globes, etc., the equinoctial line. [1913 Webster]
  • Equator of the sun or Equator of a planet (Astron.), the great circle whose plane passes through through the center of the body, and is perpendicular to its axis of revolution.
  • Magnetic equator. See Aclinic. [1913 Webster]