English Dictionary

equinox

/ˈɛkwɪnɒks/

noun

One of the two occasions in the year when the length of the day and night are equal, which occurs when the apparent path of the Sun (the ecliptic) intersects with the equatorial plane of the Earth; this happens on a day between March 19 and 21 (spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere), and on another day between September 21 and 24 (autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, and spring in the Southern Hemisphere); hence, the exact time when the intersection occurs.

The equinox marks the beginning of spring and fall.

意味（1）

One of the two occasions in the year when the length of the day and night are equal, which occurs when the apparent path of the Sun (the ecliptic) intersects with the equatorial plane of the Earth; this happens on a day between March 19 and 21 (spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere), and on another day between September 21 and 24 (autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, and spring in the Southern Hemisphere); hence, the exact time when the intersection occurs.

[T]he Months of March and September, the tvvo Æquinoxes of Our year, are the moſt vvindy and tempeſtuous, the moſt unſettled and unequable of Seaſons in moſt Countries of the VVorld.

意味（2）

(also figuratively) The circumstance of a twenty-four hour time period having the day and night of equal length.

[D]oe but ſee his vice, / Tis to his vertue, a iuſt equinox, / The one as long as th'other: […]

意味（3）

(astronomy) One of the two points in space where the apparent path of the Sun intersects with the equatorial plane of the Earth.

意味（4）

(rare) A gale (“very strong wind”) once thought to occur more frequently around the time of an equinox (sense 1), now known to be a misconception; an equinoctial gale.

The paſſage yet vvas good, the vvind, 'tis true, / VVas ſomevvhat high, but that vvas nothing nevv, / Nor more than uſual Equinoxes blevv.

意味（5）

(astronomy) A celestial equator (“great circle on the celestial sphere, coincident with the plane of the Earth's equator (the equatorial plane)”); also, the Earth's equator.

[T]hey [seals] are over all the American Coaſt of the South Seas, from Terra del Fuego, up to the Equinoctial Line: but to the North of the Equinox again, in theſe Sea, I never ſavv any, till as far as 21 North Lat[itude].