The Collaborative International Dictionary
Vernal \Ver"nal\, a. [L. vernalis, fr. vernus vernal, ver spring; akin to Gr. ?, Skr. vasanta, Icel. v[=a]r, and E. Easter, east.]
Of or pertaining to the spring; appearing in the spring; as, vernal bloom.
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Fig.: Belonging to youth, the spring of life.
When after the long vernal day of life.
--Thomson.And seems it hard thy vernal years Few vernal joys can show?
--Keble.Vernal equinox (Astron.), the time when the sun crosses the equator when proceeding northward.
Vernal grass (Bot.), a low, soft grass ( Anthoxanthum odoratum), producing in the spring narrow spikelike panicles, and noted for the delicious fragrance which it gives to new-mown hay; -- also called sweet vernal grass. See Illust. in Appendix.
Vernal signs (Astron.), the signs, Aries, Taurus, and Gemini, in which the sun appears between the vernal equinox and summer solstice.
Wiktionary
n. 1 the moment when the sun appears to cross the celestial equator, heading northward 2 the point where the ecliptic intersects the celestial equator at that time
WordNet
n. March 21 [syn: March equinox, spring equinox] [ant: autumnal equinox]
(astronomy) the equinoctial point that lies in the constellation of Pisces
Wikipedia
Vernal Equinox is the debut studio album of Jon Hassell, released in 1977 by Lovely Music, Ltd.
Usage examples of "vernal equinox".
I was supposed to spend this first day past the Vernal Equinox contemplating how flames licked sea coal in a brazier.
For almost 1800 years before his reign, and more than 300 years after it, the sun on the vernal equinox rose unfailingly in the constellation of the Bull.
On the other hand, they knew that some time during the days of spring the words of the prophecy would fall due, and so they wished to be on the glacier by the time of the vernal equinox, on the glacier some seven miles north of the abandoned monastery.
Only it is to be observed that if the death of Christ was dated on the twenty-fifth of March, his resurrection, according to Christian tradition, must have happened on the twenty-seventh of March, which is just two days later than the vernal equinox of the Julian calender and the resurrection of Attis.
A hundred years before the time of Christ, the vernal equinox-- Excuse me, are you familiar with the vernal equinox?
It has taken me over three years to reach the point where I am willing to tell anyone but my closest friends about my experience beginning back at the vernal equinox of 1974.
Each month, containing five five-day weeks, is separated by a five-day period, called the Passage Hand, and every other month, there being one exception to this, which is that of the last month of the year is separated from the first month of the year, which begins with the Vernal Equinox, not only by a Passage Hand, but by another five-day period called the Waiting Hand, during which doorways are painted white, little food is eaten, little is drunk and there is to be no singing or public rejoicing in the city.
While the capital and the southlands warmed and basked under bright sunshine, Kirkenwood remained in the grip of a storm worthy of the Vernal Equinox.
From the winter solstice to the vernal equinox, ninety and one eighth days.
From the vernal equinox to the summer solstice, ninety-four and one half days.