north

¹ American  

[nawrth] / nɔrθ /

noun

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

2. the direction in which this point lies.

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

4. 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.

5. (initial capital letter) North Country.

6. the north wind.

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adjective

1. in, toward, or facing, the north.

   the north gate.

2. directed or proceeding toward the north.

   a north course.

3. coming from the north.

   a north wind.

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

   North Atlantic.

adverb

1. to, toward, or in the north.

   sailing north.

North ² American  

[nawrth] / nɔrθ /

noun

1. Christopher, pen name of John Wilson.

2. Frederick, 2nd Earl of Guilford Lord North, 1732–92, British statesman: prime minister 1770–82.

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

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north ¹ British  

/ nɔːθ /

noun

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

2. the direction along a meridian towards the North Pole

3. the direction in which a compass needle points; magnetic north

4. (often capital) any area lying in or towards the north

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

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adjective

1. situated in, moving towards, or facing the north

2. (esp of the wind) from the north

adverb

1. in, to, or towards the north

2. archaic (of the wind) from the north

North ² British  

/ nɔːθ /

noun

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

2. (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

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

4. the countries of the world that are economically and technically advanced

5. poetic the north wind

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adjective

1. 1. of or denoting the northern part of a specified country, area, etc

   2. ( as part of a name )

      North Africa

North ³ British  

/ nɔːθ /

noun

1. 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

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

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Etymology

Origin of north

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

Example Sentences

Just over a year after the unveiling of the "Frankfurt Silver Inscription" -- the oldest known Christian written testimony north of the Alps -- attention is once again turning to this ancient site.

From Science Daily • Apr. 5, 2026

In south and west Wales thousands of homes were without power according to National Grid, while SP Energy reported power cuts in north Wales, due to Storm Dave.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

Colusa County, a rural farming region north of Sacramento, saw the sharpest drop in kids’ eye doctor appointments in the state from 20% during 2015-16 to just under 2% during 2022-24.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

On Saturday several blasts were heard coming from Tehran's north, an AFP journalist said.

From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026

Whenever the big ice floes drifted down from the north and crashed onshore, making thunderous sounds, he would tremble and turn pale.

From "Black Star, Bright Dawn" by Scott O'Dell

Related Words

• northward