Etimology
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 (nérteros, “infernal, lower”). Ultimately, these may derive from either: (a) from Proto-Indo-European *h₁ner- (“inner, under”), from *h₁en (“in”); (b) alternatively from a Proto-Indo-European *ner- (“left, below”), as north is to the left when one faces the rising sun.
noun
north (countable and uncountable, plural norths)
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.
(physics) 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”). [circa 1300]
(ecclesiastical) In a church: the direction to the left-hand side of a person facing the altar.
Examples
Alternative form: N
Minnesota is in the north of the USA.
Stock prices are heading back towards the north.
[…] and after independence the north clung to sugar production longer than the south, with the result that when the north took […]
If candidates stand on the liturgical south facing the presider and liturgical assistants on the liturgical north, it will present better visual lines for the congregation than if they stand facing east and west with their backs toward the congregation.
Many early Christian basilicas were designed with twin ambos for the proclamation of the epistle and the Gospel . The separation of the ambos indicated the distinction that should be accorded the Gospel, which was proclaimed from the north as if evangelization needed to happen to the geographically southern part of the world.
At St. Andrew's, ecclesiastical north, south, east, and west correspond to geographical northeast, southwest, southeast, and northwest.
The new St Mary's Anglican Church, Walkerville, has an attached rectory flanking to the liturgical south and an attached parish hall flanking to the liturgical north, both half-timbered in the Tudor Revival style. [Referring to a church that is oriented SSE, making "south" WSW]
Related words
antonyms
south
coordinate terms
east by north
east-north-east
Far North
global north
gone north about
grid north
it's grim up north
king of the north
magnetic north
Mid North
north Africa
north Andean deer
north and south
northbound
north by east
north by northeast
north by northwest
north by west
north-caper
north country
north countryman
northeast
north-east
northeast by north
north-easterly
north-eastern
northerly
northern
northerner
north geographical pole
northing
north magnetic pole
north-north-east
north northeast
north-northeast
north-northeasterly
north-northeastern
north-northeastward
north-northeastwards
north northwest
north-north-west
north-northwest
north-northwesterly
north-northwestern
north-northwestward
north-northwestwards
north of
north of 60
north of sixty
north of the border
north of Watford
North Palmyra
northpaw
north-seeking pole
north side
north star
north temperate zone
northward
northwardly
northwards
northwest
northwest by north
northwesterly
north-westerly
north-western
north wind
North Woodbury
true north
up north
west by north
west-north-west
related terms
Norse
adjective
north (not comparable)
Of or pertaining to the north; northern.
Toward the north; northward.
(meteorology) Of wind, from the north.
Pertaining to the part of a corridor used by northbound traffic.
(ecclesiastical) Designating, or situated in, the liturgical north (in a church, the direction to the left-hand side of a person facing the altar).
(colloquial) More or greater than.
Examples
He lived in north Germany.
She entered through the north gate.
The most dangerous ones are those that develop during October and November and that follow a north path affecting the western part of the island.
The north wind was cold.
north highway 1
Traffic was doing the speed limit on North I-45 one minute and had come to a stand-still the next.
[…] the high church had liked its clergy to preside at the Eucharist in an ad orientem position; the low church advocated what was called the north end position; but the Liturgical Movement asked the priest to take a basilical position, facing liturgical west, and now both Anglican factions could agree on this third position without either of them losing face.
Throughout the book I refer directionally to the altar and chancel of St. Andrew's as situated at ecclesiastical east , not geographical or magnetic southeast. Thus, […] The north side faces the river , and the south side, Ashley River Road. […] At St. Andrew's, ecclesiastical north, south, east, and west correspond to geographical northeast, southwest, southeast, and northwest. Unless otherwise indicated, compass directions given in this book are ecclesiastical, not geographical, reference points.
The wedding ended up costing north of $50,000.
The price you're offering had better be north of the highest price this company has ever traded for.
Some of the windscreens we replace cost north of $1800[.]
Related words
synonyms
(of the north): boreal, septentrional
antonyms
south, austral, meridional
adverb
north (not comparable)
Toward the north; northward; northerly.
Examples
Switzerland is north of Italy.
We headed north.
Related words
antonyms
south
verb
north (third-person singular simple present norths, present participle northing, simple past and past participle northed)
(obsolete, intransitive) To turn or move toward the north.
Examples
When at B you had northed 3.71 […]