north

[ nawrth ]

/ nɔrθ /

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noun

a cardinal point of the compass, lying in the plane of the meridian and to the left of a person facing the rising sun. Abbreviation: N

the direction in which this point lies.

(usually initial capital letter) a region or territory situated in this direction.

the North, the northern area of the United States, especially the states that fought to preserve the Union in the Civil War, lying to the north of the Ohio River, and usually including Missouri and Maryland.

(initial capital letter) North Country.

the north wind.

adjective

in, toward, or facing, the north: the north gate.

directed or proceeding toward the north: a north course.

coming from the north: a north wind.

(usually initial capital letter) designating the northern part of a region, nation, country, etc.: North Atlantic.

adverb

to, toward, or in the north: sailing north.

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Origin of north

before 900; Middle English, Old English, cognate with Dutch noord,German Nord,Old Norse northr

Words nearby north

Norseman, Norse mythology, Norstad, norteamericano, norteño, north, North Adams, North Africa, North African, Northallerton, North America

Other definitions for north (2 of 2)

North

[ nawrth ]

/ nɔrθ /

noun

Christopher, pen name of John Wilson.

Frederick, 2nd Earl of Guil·ford

[gil-ferd] /ˈgɪl fərd/ "Lord North", 1732–92, British statesman: prime minister 1770–82.

Sir Thomas, 1535?–1601?, English translator.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use north in a sentence

It might come down to which team wins the North, a situation that currently leans towards Toronto and thus favors Matthews.
Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid lead the NHL MVP race|Neil Greenberg|February 26, 2021|Washington Post
High temperatures may range from near 50 north to near 60 south.
D.C.-area forecast: Clouds increase today, with rain odds up starting tonight|A. Camden Walker|February 26, 2021|Washington Post
Monahan also said the Park Police decided to erect a fence on the north end of Lafayette Square, and “there is 100 percent zero correlation between our operation and the president’s visit to the church.”
Pamela Smith named chief of U.S. Park Police|Tom Jackman|February 25, 2021|Washington Post
Sandra Nelson, whose family lives in a priority Zip code just north of Petworth, said she and two friends tried multiple times Thursday morning to register her husband, Jack Nelson, who has diabetes, for a vaccine appointment.
D.C. vaccine registrations freeze up, then fill up on first day for residents with underlying conditions|Antonio Olivo, Lola Fadulu, Michael Brice-Saddler|February 25, 2021|Washington Post

Sightseeing highlightsWith twisting rivers throughout and mountains to the north overlooking the village, Pelican Town is a sight to behold.
Five sensational vacation destinations from the virtual worlds of video games|Shelly Tan, Elise Favis, Gene Park, Armand Emamdjomeh|February 25, 2021|Washington Post
According to Pew, 14 of the 20 countries in the Middle East and North Africa have blasphemy laws.
In Defense of Blasphemy|Michael Tomasky|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
They took cover inside a print works to the north east of Paris, where they held a member of staff as a hostage.
France Kills Charlie Hebdo Murderers|Nico Hines|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The new information consisted of Internet protocol addresses that Comey said are “exclusively used” by North Korea.
Was Sony Hit With a Second Hack?|Shane Harris|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Current and former intelligence officials have said North Korea has long been a priority target for American spies.
Was Sony Hit With a Second Hack?|Shane Harris|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
There were also the fleshy remains of the seniors who migrated to Florida from all points north.
Powerful Congressman Writes About ‘Fleshy Breasts’|Asawin Suebsaeng|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Between South and North, the probabilities of a serious, and no very distant rupture, are strong and manifest.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846|Various
Two Battalions racing due North along the coast and foothills with levelled bayonets.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
Turn we our backs to the cold gloomy north, to the wet windy west, to the dry parching east—on to the south!
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846|Various
This road ran north and south, and nearly in front of where he lay another road entered it, coming in from the west.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
From Canada on the north, to Texas on the south, the hot winds had laid the land seemingly bare.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux

British Dictionary definitions for north (1 of 3)

north

/ (nɔːθ) /

noun

one of the four cardinal points of the compass, at 0° or 360°, that is 90° from east and west and 180° from south

the direction along a meridian towards the North Pole

the direction in which a compass needle points; magnetic north

the North (often capital) any area lying in or towards the northRelated adjectives: arctic, boreal

cards (usually capital) the player or position at the table corresponding to north on the compass

adjective

situated in, moving towards, or facing the north

(esp of the wind) from the north

adverb

in, to, or towards the north

archaic (of the wind) from the north

Symbol: N

Word Origin for north

Old English; related to Old Norse northr, Dutch noord, Old High German nord

British Dictionary definitions for north (2 of 3)

North¹

/ (nɔːθ) /

noun the North

the northern area of England, generally regarded as reaching approximately the southern boundaries of Yorkshire and Lancashire

(in the US) the area approximately north of Maryland and the Ohio River, esp those states north of the Mason-Dixon Line that were known as the Free States during the Civil War

the northern part of North America, esp the area consisting of Alaska, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut; the North Country

the countries of the world that are economically and technically advanced

poetic the north wind

adjective

of or denoting the northern part of a specified country, area, etc
(as part of a name)North Africa

British Dictionary definitions for north (3 of 3)

North²

/ (nɔːθ) /

noun

Frederick, 2nd Earl of Guildford, called Lord North. 1732–92, British statesman; prime minister (1770–82), dominated by George III. He was held responsible for the loss of the American colonies

Sir Thomas. ?1535–?1601, English translator of Plutarch's Lives (1579), which was the chief source of Shakespeare's Roman plays

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

north

Origin of north

Words nearby north

Other definitions for north (2 of 2)

Words related to north

How to use north in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for north (1 of 3)

Word Origin for north

British Dictionary definitions for north (2 of 3)

British Dictionary definitions for north (3 of 3)