/ nɔːθ; NAmE nɔːrθ/ noun , adjective , adverb
■ noun [ U , sing. ] ( abbr. N , No. )
1.
(usually the north ) the direction that is on your left when you watch the sun rise; one of the four main points of the compass :
Which way is north?
cold winds coming from the north.
Mount Kenya is to the north of (= further north than) Nairobi.
—compare east , south , west
—see also magnetic north , true north
2.
the north , the North the northern part of a country, a region or the world :
birds migrating from the north
Houses are less expensive in the North (= of England) than in the South.
3.
the North the NE states of the US which fought against the South in the American Civil War
4.
the North the richer and more developed countries of the world, especially in Europe and N America
■ adjective [ only before noun ]
1.
( abbr. N , No. ) in or towards the north :
North London
the north bank of the river
2.
a north wind blows from the north
—compare northerly
■ adverb
towards the north :
The house faces north.
•
IDIOMS
- up north
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch noord and German nord .