equator C2 Topic:Space, Position & Direction US /ɪˈkweɪ.tɚ/ UK /ɪˈkweɪ.tə/ See IPA manual Freq #19128 Meanings 1 noun an imaginary line around the Earth forming the great circle that is equidistant from the north and south poles The equator is the boundary between the northern and southern hemispheres. 2 noun An imaginary great circle around Earth, equidistant from the two poles, and dividing earth's surface into the northern and southern hemispheres. Baishui is about as close to the equator as Tampa, Florida. 3 noun The midline of any generally spherical object, such as a fruit or vegetable, that has identifiable poles. Slice the onion through the equator. 4 noun a circle dividing a sphere or other surface into two usually equal and symmetrical parts Thesaurus Word family Derived forms equatorialequatorwardequatorwardspalaeoequatorpaleoequator Related forms ecuadorequalequi- Appears in Phrases (1) See all celestial equator an imaginary circle in the sky corresponding to Earth's equator Adjective + noun Etymology From Late Latin (circulus) aequator (diei et noctis). Topics Space, Position & Direction Word Formation & Derivatives External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # equator **Type:** Word **Level:** C2 **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /ɪˈkweɪ.tɚ/ **IPA (UK):** /ɪˈkweɪ.tə/ **Frequency rank:** 19128 ## Meanings 1. an imaginary line around the Earth forming the great circle that is equidistant from the north and south poles 2. An imaginary great circle around Earth, equidistant from the two poles, and dividing earth's surface into the northern and southern hemispheres. 3. The midline of any generally spherical object, such as a fruit or vegetable, that has identifiable poles. 4. a circle dividing a sphere or other surface into two usually equal and symmetrical parts ## Examples - The equator is the boundary between the northern and southern hemispheres. - Baishui is about as close to the equator as Tampa, Florida. - Slice the onion through the equator. ## Derived Forms - equatorial - equatorward - equatorwards - palaeoequator - paleoequator ## Related Forms - ecuador - equal - equi- ## Etymology From Late Latin (circulus) aequator (diei et noctis). ## Topics - Space, Position & Direction - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown