noun

1. the direction to the right of a person facing the sunset; direction of the North Pole from any other point on the earth's surface: the needle of a magnetic compass points to the magnetic north pole rather than to the geographic pole
2. the point on a compass at 0° or 360°, directly opposite south
3. a region or district in or toward this direction
4. the northern part of the earth, esp. the arctic regions

Etymology: ME < OE, akin to Du noord, Ger nord, ON northr < IE base *ner-, beneath, below > Gr nerteros, lower

adjective

1. in, of, to, toward, or facing the north
2. from the north a north wind
3. designating the northern part of a continent, country, etc. North Africa

adverb