meridian

[ muh-rid-ee-uh n ]
/ məˈrɪd i ən /

noun

Geography.
  1. a great circle of the earth passing through the poles and any given point on the earth's surface.
  2. the half of such a circle included between the poles.
Astronomy. the great circle of the celestial sphere that passes through its poles and the observer's zenith.
a point or period of highest development, greatest prosperity, or the like.
(in acupuncture) any of the pathways in the body along which vital energy flows.

adjective

Origin of meridian

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin merīdiānus of noon, equivalent to merīdi(ēs) midday (formed from the locative merīdiē at midday, by dissimilation < *medī diē; medius mid1, diēs day) + -ānus -an

Definition for meridian (2 of 2)

Meridian
[ muh-rid-ee-uh n ]
/ məˈrɪd i ən /

noun

a city in E Mississippi.

Example sentences from the Web for meridian

British Dictionary definitions for meridian

meridian
/ (məˈrɪdɪən) /

noun

adjective

Word Origin for meridian

C14: from Latin merīdiānus of midday, from merīdiēs midday, from medius mid 1 + diēs day

Medical definitions for meridian

meridian
[ mə-rĭdē-ən ]

n.

An imaginary line encircling a globular body at right angles to its equator and passing through its poles.
Either half of such a great circle from pole to pole.
Any of the longitudinal lines or pathways on the body along which the acupuncture points are distributed.

Scientific definitions for meridian

meridian
[ mə-rĭdē-ən ]

An imaginary line forming a great circle that passes through the Earth's North and South geographic poles.
Either half of such a circle from pole to pole. All the places on the same meridian have the same longitude. See illustration at longitude.
See celestial meridian.

Cultural definitions for meridian

meridian
[ (muh-rid-ee-uhn) ]

A great imaginary circle on the surface of the Earth that runs north and south through the North Pole and South Pole. Longitude is measured on meridians: places on a meridian have the same longitude. (See prime meridian.)