# equator

/ɪˈkweɪtɝ/ (US) · /ɪkwˈeɪtɐ/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/equator
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

the imaginary line that goes around the middle of the Earth. It is exactly halfway between the North Pole and the South Pole.

For teachers: the imaginary great circle around the Earth's surface, equidistant from the poles and perpendicular to the Earth's axis of rotation. It divides the planet into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

## Examples

- Countries near the equator are usually very hot.
- The equator passes through several countries, including Ecuador, Kenya, and Indonesia, where the climate is tropical year-round.
- Because the Earth is not a perfect sphere, the centrifugal force of its rotation causes a slight bulge at the equator, making the planet an oblate spheroid.

## Usage notes

- Usually used with the definite article 'the'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.