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vernal equinox

[vur-nl ee-kwuh-noks, ek-wuh-noks]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

equinox1
Also called vernal point.��the position of the sun at the time of the vernal equinox.

vernal equinox

noun

the time at which the sun crosses the plane of the equator towards the relevant hemisphere, making day and night of equal length. It occurs about March 21 in the N hemisphere (Sept 23 in the S hemisphere)
1. astronomy the point, lying in the constellation Pisces, at which the sun's ecliptic intersects the celestial equator
2. the time at which this occurs as the sun travels south to north (March 21)

vernal equinox

See under equinox

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Word History and Origins

Origin of vernal equinox¹

First recorded in 1525–35

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The odds also tend to increase around equinoxes — the vernal equinox occurred last week — due to a more favorable tilt in the Earth’s axis, Murtagh said.

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In the Northern Hemisphere, the vernal equinox will officially take place this Tuesday, March 19, at 11:06 p.m.

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Pretty much aligned with the vernal equinox, give or take a few days, St. Patrick’s Day lands just right on the calendar for a celebration.

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Then, in March, nature will once again bring us the vernal equinox, the time of year that ushers in spring in the North.

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For some, spring cleaning takes place around the time of the vernal equinox, which this year fell on March 20.

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vernal vernal grass

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