north

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)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.

   “Minnesota is in the north of the USA.”

2. (countable, uncountable)The up or positive direction.

   “Stock prices are heading back towards the north.”

3. (countable, uncountable)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).
4. (alt-of, countable, uncountable)Alternative letter-case form of North (“a northern region; the inhabitants thereof”).

   “[…] and after independence the north clung to sugar production longer than the south, with the result that when the north took […]”

5. (countable, uncountable)In a church: the direction to the left-hand side of a person facing the altar.

   “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 (on the liturgical south side) and the Gospel (on the north). 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]”

adj

1. (not-comparable)Of or pertaining to the north; northern.

   “He lived in north Germany.”

   “She entered through the north gate.”

2. (not-comparable)Toward the north; northward.

   “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.”

3. (not-comparable)Of wind, from the north.

   “The north wind was cold.”

4. (not-comparable)Pertaining to the part of a corridor used by northbound traffic.

   “north highway 1”

   “Traffic was doing the speed limit on North I-45 one minute and had come to a stand-still the next.”

5. (not-comparable)Designating, or situated in, the liturgical north (in a church, the direction to the left-hand side of a person facing the altar).

   “[…] 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.”

6. (colloquial, not-comparable)More or greater than.

   “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[.]”

adv

1. Toward the north; northward; northerly.

   “Switzerland is north of Italy.”

   “We headed north.”

verb

1. (intransitive, obsolete)To turn or move toward the north.

   “When at B you had northed 3.71[…]”

name

1. (US)Any of various particular regions named for the cardinal direction in which they lie.
2. (US)Any of various particular regions named for the cardinal direction in which they lie.

   “The North lost most battles early in the war.”

3. (UK)Any of various particular regions named for the cardinal direction in which they lie.
4. (Ireland)Any of various particular regions named for the cardinal direction in which they lie.
5. Any of various particular regions named for the cardinal direction in which they lie.
6. Any of various particular regions named for the cardinal direction in which they lie.

   “In 1903, I had adventured, for the first time, northwards, and it really was the North, as my objective was the Great North of Scotland Railway.”

7. Any of various particular regions named for the cardinal direction in which they lie.

   “In economic terms, the North controls four-fifths of the income earned anywhere in the world.”

8. (countable, uncountable)A surname.
9. (countable, uncountable)A civil parish in Prince County, Prince Edward Island, Canada, named for its location.
10. (countable, uncountable)A town in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, United States, named after John North.
11. (countable, uncountable)A number of townships in the United States, including in Indiana (2), Minnesota, Missouri and Ohio, listed under North Township; most are named named for their location.