North Pole


noun

Geography. the end of the earth's axis of rotation, marking the northernmost point on the earth.
Astronomy. the point at which the extended axis of the earth cuts the northern half of the celestial sphere, about 1° from the North Star; the north celestial pole.
(lowercase) the pole of a magnet that seeks the earth's north magnetic pole.
(lowercase) See under magnetic pole(def 1).

Origin of North Pole

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Definition for north pole (2 of 2)

magnetic pole

noun

the region of a magnet toward which the lines of magnetic induction converge (south pole) or from which the lines of induction diverge (north pole).
either of the two points on the earth's surface where the dipping needle of a compass stands vertical, one in the arctic, the other in the antarctic.

Origin of magnetic pole

First recorded in 1695–1705

Example sentences from the Web for north pole

British Dictionary definitions for north pole (1 of 2)

magnetic pole

noun

either of two regions in a magnet where the magnetic induction is concentrated
either of two variable points on the earth's surface towards which a magnetic needle points, where the lines of force of the earth's magnetic field are vertical

British Dictionary definitions for north pole (2 of 2)

North Pole

noun

the northernmost point on the earth's axis, at a latitude of 90°N
Also called: north celestial pole astronomy the point of intersection of the earth's extended axis and the northern half of the celestial sphere, lying about 1° from Polaris
(usually not capitals) the pole of a freely suspended magnet, which is attracted to the earth's magnetic North Pole

Scientific definitions for north pole (1 of 2)

magnetic pole

Either of two regions of a magnet, designated north and south, where the magnetic field is strongest. Electromagnetic interactions cause the north poles of magnets to be attracted to the south poles of other magnets, and conversely. The north pole of a magnet is the pole out of which magnetic lines of force point, while the south pole is the pole into which they point. The Earth's geomagnetic “north” and “south” poles are, in fact, magnetically the opposite of what their names suggest; this is why the north end of a compass needle is attracted to the geomagnetic “north” pole. See Note at magnetism. See also magnetic.
Either of two regions of the Earth's surface at which magnetic lines of force are perpendicular to the Earth's surface. The Earth's magnetic poles are close to, but not identical with, both its geographic poles (the North and South Poles) and its geomagnetic poles. See Note at magnetic reversal.

Scientific definitions for north pole (2 of 2)

North Pole

The northern end of the Earth's axis of rotation, located at 90° north latitude at a point in the Arctic Ocean. See more at axis.

Cultural definitions for north pole (1 of 2)

North Pole

The northern end, or pole, of the Earth's axis (see also axis) (See Arctic and Arctic Ocean.)

Cultural definitions for north pole (2 of 2)

magnetic pole

The spot on the Earth toward which a compass needle will point.

notes for magnetic pole

The north magnetic pole is not located exactly at the geographic North Pole. Therefore, depending on where a compass is, its needle may not point exactly north.

notes for magnetic pole

The variation between magnetic north and “true” north is usually shown on navigation maps as the “angle of declination.”