That one of the four cardinal points of the compass, at any place, which lies in the direction of the true meridian, and to the left hand of a person facing the east; the direction opposite to the south. [1913 Webster]

Any country or region situated farther to the north than another; the northern section of a country. [1913 Webster]

Specifically: That part of the United States lying north of Mason and Dixon's line. See under Line. [1913 Webster]

north, a.

Lying toward the north; situated at the north, or in a northern direction from the point of observation or reckoning; proceeding toward the north, or coming from the north. [1913 Webster]

North following. See Following, a., 2. -- North pole, that point in the heavens, or on the earth, ninety degrees from the equator toward the north. -- North preceding. See Following, a., 2. -- North star, the star toward which the north pole of the earth very nearly points, and which accordingly seems fixed and immovable in the sky. The star Cynosura, polestar, and by astronomers, Polaris.

north, v. i.

To turn or move toward the north; to veer from the east or west toward the north. [1913 Webster]

north, adv.

Northward. [1913 Webster]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

north, n., adj., & adv.
--n.
1 a the point of the horizon 90Â° anticlockwise from east. b the compass point corresponding to this. c the direction in which this lies.
2 (usu. the North) a the part of the world or a country or a town lying to the north, esp. = north country or Northern States. b the Arctic. c the industrialized nations.
3 (North) Bridge a player occupying the position designated 'north'.
--adj.
1 towards, at, near, or facing north.
2 coming from the north (north wind).
--adv.
1 towards, at, or near the north.
2 (foll. by of) further north than.

Idiom

North American adj. of North America.
--n. a native or inhabitant of North America, esp. a citizen of the US or Canada. north and south lengthwise along a line from north to south. north by east (or west) between north and north-north-east (or north-north-west). north country the northern part of England (north of the Humber). North-countryman (pl. -men) a native of the north country. north-east n.
1 the point of the horizon midway between north and east.
2 the compass point corresponding to this.
3 the direction in which this lies.
--adj. of, towards, or coming from the north-east.
--adv. towards, at, or near the north-east. North-East the part of a country or town lying to the north-east. north-easterly adj. & adv. = north-east. north-eastern lying on the north-east side. north-east passage a passage for ships along the northern coast of Europe and Asia, formerly thought of as a possible route to the East. north light light from the north, esp. as desired by painters and in factory design. north-north-east the point or direction midway between north and north-east. north-north-west the point or direction midway between north and north-west. North Pole
1 the northernmost point of the earth's axis of rotation.
2 the northernmost point about which the stars appear to revolve. North Sea the sea between Britain, the Netherlands, Germany, and Scandinavia. North Star the polestar.
north-west n.
1 the point of the horizon midway between north and west.
2 the compass point corresponding to this.
3 the direction in which this lies.
--adj. of, towards, or coming from the north-west.
--adv. towards, at, or near the north-west. North-West the part of a country or town lying to the north-west. north-westerly adj. & adv. = north-west. north-western lying on the north-west side. north-west passage a passage for ships along the northern coast of America, formerly thought of as a possible route from the Atlantic to the Pacific. to the north (often foll. by of) in a northerly direction.

Etymology

OE f. Gmc

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THESAURUS

north
Dixie, Dixieland, Down East, East, East Coast, Middle Atlantic, Middle West, N, New England, North, North Central region, Northeast, Northwest, Pacific Northwest, South, Southeast, Southwest, Sunbelt, West, West Coast, Yankeeland, antarctic, arctic, austral, boreal, cardinal points, compass card, compass rose, degrees, east, eastbound, easterly, eastermost, eastern, easternmost, eastland, eastward, half points, hyperborean, lubber line, meridional, north about, northbound, northeast, northeasterly, northeastern, northerly, northern, northernmost, northland, northward, northwardly, northwards, northwest, northwesterly, northwestern, norward, occident, occidental, orient, oriental, quarter points, rhumb, south, southbound, southeast, southeasterly, southeastern, southerly, southern, southernmost, southward, southwest, southwesterly, southwestern, sunrise, sunset, the Coast, west, westbound, westerly, western, westernmost, westland, westward, wild West

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ROGET THESAURUS

north

Direction
N direction, management, managery, government, gubernation, conduct, legislation, regulation, guidance, bossism, legislature, steerage, pilotage, reins, reins of government, helm, rudder, needle, compass, guiding star, load star, lode star, pole star, cynosure, supervision, superintendence, surveillance, oversight, eye of the master, control, charge, board of control, command, premiership, senatorship, director, chair, portfolio, statesmanship, statecraft, kingcraft, queencraft, ministry, ministration, administration, stewardship, proctorship, agency, director, directing, hegemonic, at the helm, at the head of, direction, bearing, course, vector, set, drift, tenor, tendency, incidence, bending, trending, dip, tack, aim, collimation, steering steerage, point of the compass, cardinal points, North East, South, West, N by E, ENE, NE by N, NE, rhumb, azimuth, line of collimation, line, path, road, range, quarter, line of march, alignment, allignment, air line, beeline, straight shoot, directed, directed towards, pointing towards, bound for, aligned, with alligned with, direct, straight, undeviating, unswerving, straightforward, North, Northern, Northerly, towards, on the road, on the high road to, en avant, versus, to, hither, thither, whither, directly, straight as an arrow, forwards as an arrow, point blank, in a bee line to, in a direct line to, as the crow flies, in a straight line to, in a bee line for, in a direct line for, in a straight line for, in a bee line with, in a direct line with, in a straight line with, in a line with, full tilt at, as the crow flies, before the wind, near the wind, close to the wind, against the wind, windwards, in the wind's eye, through, via, by way of, in all directions, in all manner of ways, quaquaversum, from the four winds, the shortest distance between two points is a stra.

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