Definition of NORTH

north

Meanings

Plural: norths

Noun

  • the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
  • the United States (especially the northern states during the American Civil War)
    • "the North's superior resources turned the scale"
  • the cardinal compass point that is at 0 or 360 degrees
  • a location in the northern part of a country, region, or city
  • the direction corresponding to the northward cardinal compass point
  • the direction in which a compass needle points
  • British statesman under George III whose policies led to rebellion in the American colonies (1732-1792)
  • The direction towards the pole to the left-hand side of someone facing east, specifically 0°, or (on another celestial object) the direction towards the pole lying on the northern side of the invariable plane.
  • The up or positive direction.
  • The positive or north pole of a magnet, which seeks the magnetic pole near Earth's geographic North Pole (which, for its magnetic properties, is a south pole).
  • Alternative letter-case form of North (“a northern region; the inhabitants thereof”).
  • In a church: the direction to the left-hand side of a person facing the altar.

Adjective

  • situated in or facing or moving toward or coming from the north
    • "artists like north light"
    • "the north portico"

Adverb

  • in a northern direction
    • "they earn more up north"
    • "Let's go north!"

Adj

  • Of or pertaining to the north; northern.
  • Toward the north; northward.
  • Of wind, from the north.
  • Pertaining to the part of a corridor used by northbound traffic.
  • Designating, or situated in, the liturgical north (in a church, the direction to the left-hand side of a person facing the altar).
  • More or greater than.

Adv

  • Toward the north; northward; northerly.

Verb

  • To turn or move toward the north.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English north, from Old English norþ, from Proto-West Germanic *norþr, from Proto-Germanic *nurþrą, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *nér (“below (the surface)”). The meaning developed either from "region where the sun is below (the earth)" or from "left side of someone who turns to the east when praying".
Cognate with various Germanic counterparts such as Dutch noord, West Frisian noard, German Nord, Danish and Norwegian nord; also with Greek νέρτερος (nérteros, “infernal, lower”) and Sanskrit नरक (naraka, “hell”)

Synonyms

boreal, compass north, due north, Frederick North, magnetic north, N, northerly, northward, northwards, Second Earl of Guilford, septentrional, Union

Antonyms

austral, meridional, south

Scrabble Score: 8

north is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
north is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
north is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 8

north is a valid Words With Friends word