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• meridian
  meridian

  noun
• Meridian
  Meridian

  noun

  a city in E Mississippi.

meridian

¹ American  

[muh-rid-ee-uhn] / məˈrɪd i ən /

noun

1. Geography.

   1. a great circle of the earth passing through the poles and any given point on the earth's surface.

   2. the half of such a circle included between the poles.

2. Astronomy. the great circle of the celestial sphere that passes through its poles and the observer's zenith.

3. a point or period of highest development, greatest prosperity, or the like.

4. (in acupuncture) any of the pathways in the body along which vital energy flows.

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adjective

1. of or relating to a meridian.

2. of or relating to midday or noon.

   the meridian hour.

3. of or indicating a period of greatest prosperity, splendor, success, etc.

Meridian ² American  

[muh-rid-ee-uhn] / məˈrɪd i ən /

noun

1. a city in E Mississippi.

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meridian British  

/ məˈrɪdɪən /

noun

1. 1. one of the imaginary lines joining the north and south poles at right angles to the equator, designated by degrees of longitude from 0° at Greenwich to 180°

   2. the great circle running through both poles See prime meridian

2. astronomy

   1. the great circle on the celestial sphere passing through the north and south celestial poles and the zenith and nadir of the observer

   2. ( as modifier )

      a meridian instrument

3. Also called: meridian section.  maths a section of a surface of revolution, such as a paraboloid, that contains the axis of revolution

4. the peak; zenith

   the meridian of his achievements

5. (in acupuncture, etc) any of the channels through which vital energy is believed to circulate round the body

6. obsolete noon

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adjective

1. along or relating to a meridian

2. of or happening at noon

3. relating to the peak of something

meridian Cultural  

1. A great imaginary circle on the surface of the Earth that runs north and south through the North Pole and South Pole. Longitude is measured on meridians: places on a meridian have the same longitude. (See prime meridian.)

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Etymology

Origin of meridian

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin merīdiānus of noon, equivalent to merīdi ( ēs ) midday (formed from the locative merīdiē at midday, by dissimilation < *medī diē; medius mid ¹, diēs day) + -ānus -an

Explanation

The word meridian describes a gigantic imaginary circle that runs north and south on the earth's surface, from the North Pole to the South Pole. If you stood on the meridian at the North Pole, you would be at the earth's northernmost point. Meridian can also refer to the highest stage of development. The meridian of your chess career may have been when you took out the champ from a rival school. Used as an adjective, meridian can describe something that's at the best stage of development. Your favorite skater was at his meridian form when he won the Olympic gold medal. Meridian can also describe something that takes place at noon, like your meridian boat voyage that launched precisely at noon.

Example Sentences

Bogdan's coalition has gathered 4,000 signatures so far on a petition that slams the lack of public consultation about the Meridian Hill Park project and the possible cancellation of summer events due to construction.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

Nicole Coates, 39, of Meridian, Idaho, feels God asked her to speak up about her estrangement from her eldest child, who is 22, to help other estranged mothers and fathers feel less stigmatized.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 13, 2025

Klinghoffer was driving a black GMC Yukon at the corner of West Main Street and South Meridian Avenue when he turned left at the intersection while 47-year-old Sanchez was walking in a marked crosswalk.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2025

Meridian High School in Croydon will also be involved.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2025

The news bulletin ends, and Spanish music from the Meridian Room returns to the air.

From "Spooked!" by Gail Jarrow