Definition of "meridian" in English

noun

1. In full celestial meridian: a great circle passing through the poles of the celestial sphere and the zenith for a particular point on the Earth's surface.

2. In full terrestrial meridian: a great circle on the Earth's surface, passing through the geographic poles (the terrestrial North Pole and South Pole); also, half of such a circle extending from pole to pole, all points of which have the same longitude.

3. The place on the celestial meridian where it is crossed by the sun or a star at its highest point.

4. A ring or half-ring with markings in which an artificial globe is installed and may spin.

5. A line passing through the poles of any sphere; a notional line on the surface of a curved or round body (in particular, an eyeball).

6. (US, printing, dated) The size of type between double great primer and canon, standardized as 44-point.

7. The south.

8. Midday, noon.

9. A midday rest; a siesta.

10. A particular area or situation considered as having a specific characteristic or identity; also, the characteristics, habits, or tastes of a specific group, locale, etc.

11. An alcoholic drink taken at midday.

verb

1. (transitive) To cause an object to reach the meridian or highest point of (something).

2. (intransitive) Of a celestial body: to reach its meridian.

adjective

1. Relating to a meridian (in various senses); meridional.

2. (archaic except literary) Relating to midday or noon.

3. Relating to the culmination or highest point.

4. Relating to the south; meridional, southern.

noun

1. (acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine) Any of the pathways on the body along which chi or qi (life force) is thought to flow and, therefore, the acupoints are distributed; especially, one of twelve such pathways associated with organs of the body.