释义 |
north I. \ˈnȯ(ə)rth, ˈnȯ(ə)th\ adverb Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German nord north, Old Norse northr north, Umbrian nertru left, Greek nerteros lower, infernal; basic meaning: left : to, toward, or in the north : northward II. adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Old English north-, from north, adverb 1. a. : situated toward or at the north < the north entrance > < the north country > b. [Middle English, from Old English northan-, from northan, adverb; akin to Old Norse northan from the north; derivative from the root of English north (I) ] : coming from the north < the north wind > 2. : in the direction of the left side of a church looking from the nave toward the altar or chancel III. noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English, from north, adverb 1. a. : the direction of the north terrestrial pole : the direction to the left of one facing east : the direction to the left of one facing the sunrise when the sun is near one of the equinoxes b. : the part of the sky lying to the left of an observer facing east c. : the cardinal point directly opposite to south — abbr. N; see compass card d. : the direction along any meridian toward that pole of the earth viewed from which the earth's rotation is counterclockwise — compare magnetic north e. : the direction on the celestial sphere to the left when one faces the direction of its apparent rotation : the direction to the left when one faces the direction of revolution around the sun of the earth and the principal planets 2. usually capitalized a. : regions or countries lying to the north of a specified or implied point of orientation (as in the United States the states lying in general north of Mason and Dixon's Line and the Ohio river) b. : something (as people, culture, or institutions) characteristic of the North < the North favored certain legislative proposals > 3. : the north wind 4. often capitalized a. : the one of four positions at 90-degree intervals that lies toward the north b. : a person (as a bridge player) occupying such a position in the course of a specific activity IV. verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: north (I) : to move or veer toward the north V. noun Usage: usually capitalized : the industrialized and economically developed nations of the world — compare south herein |