North is one of the four cardinal directions, specifically the direction that, in Western culture, is treated as the primary direction: north is used (explicitly or implicitly) to define all other directions; the (visual) top edges of maps usually correspond to the northern edge of the territory represented, unless explicitly stated otherwise or landmarks are considered more useful for that territory than specific directions.

Definitions

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North can mean:

1. true north, the direction along the earth's surface toward one pole of the earth's rotation, namely the pole that is clearly on one's left when standing at the Equator while facing the rising sun.
2. magnetic north, the direction along the earth's surface in which horizontal magnetic field strength has its most positive value (but see Flipping of planetary magnetic poles for an eventual event, so rare as to make unlikely any advance agreement on whether one or two retronyms would be involved in the replacement terminology)
3. a loosely specified direction, usually within half a right angle of true north, especially when stating travel instructions in an area where directions of travel are constrained by an approximately rectangular grid of streets, hallways, etc.; this is often called 'grid north' or 'plan north'.
4. the orientation of a traveller with respect to a visible or otherwise definite continuous two-way route, such that sustained travel over the whole of the route produces a change of position to a location further north, even if that involves travelling a part of the route in another direction, even straight south; often termed "northbound".
5. pertaining to the part of a route mainly or exclusively used by northbound traffic, where southbound traffic is separated by barriers, or where both are encouraged to stay mostly in one portion by rules of the road; often termed "northbound".

Etymology

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More on [ North ]

Finding North - Twitter Search

Heading oop north, with thoughts of the pleasure of finding things out, currently the pleasure of discovering @timminchin
Ricardohere (Ricardohere) Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:45:22 -0000
Heading oop north, with thoughts of the pleasure of finding things out, currently the pleasure of discovering @timminchin
Had a wonderful eve in North Van, although finding flat parking for a scooter is hard to do. I don't want henry to roll away downhill!
Tending2Entropy (S. Reibling) Fri, 11 Dec 2009 06:49:04 -0000
Had a wonderful eve in North Van, although finding flat parking for a scooter is hard to do. I don't want henry to roll away downhill!
Heading north to have some peace and quiet to work. Finding inspiration renewed.
standup4design (Design Democracy) Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:10:13 -0000
Heading north to have some peace and quiet to work. Finding inspiration renewed.
@DaLzz I am finding Sydney north has been a bit "westernized" lately, Have been seeing graffitis and silly people around. Scary.
ktml (ktml) Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:00:24 -0000
@DaLzz I am finding Sydney north has been a bit "westernized" lately, Have been seeing graffitis and silly people around. Scary.
North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams has slammed Rodney Hide's fact-finding mission to the UK, Canada and the US http://tinyurl.com/yz7ozux
YahooXtraNews (Yahoo!Xtra News) Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:22:30 -0000
North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams has slammed Rodney Hide's fact-finding mission to the UK, Canada and the US http://tinyurl.com/yz7ozux
@ShelleyForbes well yes, but im from the north, so its kinda colder then those slackers down south :P haha i know, finding it all over!! :P
BennyBoiBen (Benjamin Worswick) Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:19:46 -0000
@ShelleyForbes well yes, but im from the north, so its kinda colder then those slackers down south :P haha i know, finding it all over!! :P

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