equator
pronunciation
How to pronounce equator in British English:
UK [ɪˈkweɪtə(r)]
How to pronounce equator in American English:
US [ɪˈkweɪtər]
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- Noun:
- an imaginary line around the Earth forming the great circle that is equidistant from the north and south poles
- a circle dividing a sphere or other surface into two usually equal and symmetrical parts
Word Origin
- equator (n.)
- late 14c., from Medieval Latin aequator (diei et noctis) "equalizer (of day and night)," agent noun from Latin aequare "make equal" (see equate). When the sun is on the celestial equator, twice annually, day and night are of equal length. Sense of "celestial equator" is earliest, extension to "terrestrial line midway between the poles" first recorded in English 1610s.
Example
- 1. They form over warm ocean water near the equator .
- 2. As the cycle progresses , it follows the spots towards the equator .
- 3. Another idea was that at the equator the ocean would be boiling hot .
- 4. Last summer , mr. loewi led his stu-dents to inspect a mountain at the equator .
- 5. In both hemispheres the climate system shifts heat from the steamy equator to the frozen pole .