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
Cite this Entry
“Equator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/equator. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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