vernal equinox

vernal equinox

n.

1. The point at which the ecliptic intersects the celestial equator, the sun having a northerly motion.

2. The moment at which the sun passes through the vernal equinox, about March 21, marking the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

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vernal equinox  (vûrnl)

See under equinox.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	vernal equinox - March 21                             March equinox, spring equinox Mar, March - the month following February and preceding April equinox - either of two times of the year when the sun crosses the plane of the earth's equator and day and night are of equal length Noruz, Nowrooz, Nowruz - (Persian) the new year holiday in Iran and Azerbaijan and Afghanistan and Pakistan and parts of India and among the Kurds; comes at the vernal equinox spring, springtime - the season of growth; "the emerging buds were a sure sign of spring"; "he will hold office until the spring of next year" autumnal equinox, fall equinox, September equinox - September 22
	2.	vernal equinox - (astronomy) the equinoctial point that lies in the constellation of Pisces astronomy, uranology - the branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole equinoctial point, equinox - (astronomy) either of the two celestial points at which the celestial equator intersects the ecliptic