CARDINAL POINT


Meaning of CARDINAL POINT in English

noun

Etymology: cardinal (I)

1.

a. : one of the four principal points of the compass north, south, east, and west

b. in magical ritual : one of the four principal directional points of the compass or one of the additional points zenith, nadir, and center

2. of a lens or lens system : one of the two principal foci, the two principal points, or the two nodal points — called also Gauss point

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.