3 entries under this word
n. [A-S. nordh, Icel. nordhr, Sw. & Dan. nord, D. noord, O. H. Ger. nord, nort, norden, N. H. Ger. nord, norden; Fr. nord, It., Sp., & Pg. norte, L. Lat. northus.] 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.
a. Lying toward the north; situated at the north, or in a northern direction from the point of observation or reckoning.
North following, in or toward that quadrant of the heavens situated between the north and east points;—said of the position of a star in respect to another, as in the case of double stars.—North pole, that point in the heavens, or on the earth, ninety degrees from the equator toward the north.—North preceding, in or toward the quadrant between the north and west points;—said of one of a pair of stars, and the like.—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 α, of the Little Bear, is our present north star, being distant from the pole about 1° 25′, and from year to year approaching slowly nearer. It is called also cynosura, pole star, and by astronomers more frequently polaris.
v. i. To turn or move toward the north; to veer from the east or west toward the north.