north

Meanings

Noun

• One of the four major compass points, specifically 0°, directed toward the North Pole, and conventionally upwards on a map, abbreviated as N.
• 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).
• In a church: the direction to the left-hand side of a person facing the altar.

Adjective

• 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.

Adverb

• Toward the north; northward; northerly.

Verb

• To turn or move toward the north.

Related

Similar words

• boreal

Opposite words

• south

Origin

• From Middle English north, from Old English norþ, cognate with various Germanic counterparts such as Dutch noord, West Frisian noard, German Nord, Danish and Norwegian nord, all from a Proto-Germanic *nurþrą, and cognate with Greek νέρτερος ("infernal, lower"). Ultimately, these may derive from either: (a) from Proto-Indo-European *h₁ner- ("inner, under"), from *h₁en; (b) alternatively from a Proto-Indo-European *ner- ("left, below"), as north is to the left when one faces the rising sun.