equator
noun
equa·tor
i-ˈkwā-tər 
ˈē-ˌkwā-
1
: the great circle of the celestial sphere whose plane is perpendicular to the axis of the earth
2
: a great circle of the earth or a celestial body that is everywhere equally distant from the two poles and divides the surface into the northern and southern hemispheres
3
a
: a circle or circular band dividing the surface of a body into two usually equal and symmetrical parts
b
: equatorial plane
the equator of a dividing cell
4
Examples of equator in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But the moon’s orbit doesn’t line up with Earth’s equator: our constant companion’s path is a bit tilted compared with Earth.
—
Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 31 July 2025
The entire ball will wobble and reorient itself so that the heavier side moves closer to its equator of the spin.
—Jay Kakade
july 30, New Atlas, 30 July 2025
In the northern hemisphere the summer solstice occurs when the sun reaches its northernmost point relative to Earth's celestial equator (which is simply our planet’s regular equator projected out into space).
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 20 June 2025
On March 16 and 17, the Solar Orbiter took images at a 15-degree tilt from the Sun’s equator.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for equator
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Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 31 July 2025
The entire ball will wobble and reorient itself so that the heavier side moves closer to its equator of the spin.
—Jay Kakade
july 30, New Atlas, 30 July 2025
In the northern hemisphere the summer solstice occurs when the sun reaches its northernmost point relative to Earth's celestial equator (which is simply our planet’s regular equator projected out into space).
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 20 June 2025
On March 16 and 17, the Solar Orbiter took images at a 15-degree tilt from the Sun’s equator.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for equator
Cite this Entry
“Equator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/equator. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
equator
noun
equa·tor
i-ˈkwāt-ər
ˈē-ˌkwāt-
: an imaginary circle around the earth everywhere equally distant from the north pole and the south pole
Medical Definition
equator
noun
equa·tor
i-ˈkwāt-ər
ˈē-ˌ
ˈē-ˌ
1
: a circle or circular band dividing the surface of a body into two usually equal and symmetrical parts especially at the place of greatest width
the equator of the lens of the eye
2
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