First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
meridian
noun me·rid·i·an \mə-ˈri-dē-ən\
: any one of the lines that go from the North Pole to the South Pole on maps of the world
Full Definition of MERIDIAN
1
archaic : the hour of noon : midday
2
: a great circle of the celestial sphere passing through its poles and the zenith of a given place — see azimuth illustration
3
: a high point
4
a (1) : a great circle on the surface of the earth passing through the poles (2) : the half of such a circle included between the poles b : a representation of such a circle or half circle numbered for longitude on a map or globe — see longitude illustration
5
: any of the pathways along which the body's vital energy flows according to the theory behind acupuncture
— meridian adjective
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Origin of MERIDIAN
Related to MERIDIAN
Other Astronomy Terms
Meridian
geographical name Me·rid·i·an \mə-ˈri-dē-ən\
Definition of MERIDIAN
1
city SW Idaho W of Boise pop 75,092
2
city E cen Mississippi pop 41,148
MERIDIAN Defined for Kids
meridian
noun me·rid·i·an \mə-ˈri-dē-ən\
Definition of MERIDIAN for Kids
1
: any imaginary semicircle on the earth's surface reaching from the north pole to the south pole
2
: a representation of a meridian on a map or globe numbered according to degrees of longitude
Medical Dictionary
meridian
noun me·rid·i·an \mə-ˈrid-ē-ən\
Medical Definition of MERIDIAN
1
: an imaginary circle or closed curve on the surface of a sphere or globe-shaped body (as the eyeball) that lies in a plane passing through the poles
2
: any of the pathways along which the body's vital energy flows according to the theory of acupuncture
—meridian adjective
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