northern

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   situated in or oriented toward the north

   the northern suburbs

2. 2
   adj

   situated in or coming from regions of the north

   the northern hemisphere

3. 3
   adj

   Of, facing, situated in, or related to the north; northerly.

   Floods in northern India, mostly in the small state of Uttarakhand, have wrought disaster on an enormous scale. The early, intense onset of the monsoon on June 14th swelled rivers, washing away roads, bridges, hotels and even whole villages.

4. 4
   adj

   Characteristic of the North of England (usually capitalised)

   Les Dawson was a famous northern comedian.

5. 5
   noun

   The northern pike.

   As is the case with northerns, the female muskie, trailed by her attendant males, may broadcast eggs over several hundred yards.

6. 6
   adj

   Characteristic of the North of England (the North) (usually capitalised).

   Les Dawson was a famous Northern comedian.

7. 7
   adj

   Characteristic of the northern part of the United States (the North) (usually capitalised).

   She's a Northern girl, so she had to ask what hush puppies and mudbugs are. We were happy to serve her the answer on a platter!

8. 8
   name

   Any of several former railroads called the Northern Railroad in the 19th century.

   We don't move any freight on the Northern anymore.

Etymology

From Middle English northerne, from Old English norþerne, from Proto-West Germanic *norþrōnī, from Proto-Germanic *nurþrōnijaz. Cognate with Old High German nordrōni and Old Norse norrœnn. Morphologically north + -ern.