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| me·rid·i·an [ mə ríddee ən ] (plural me·rid·i·ans) |
noun |
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| Definition: |
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1. geography line of longitude: an imaginary line between the North and South poles that crosses the equator at right angles. A meridian is designated by the degrees of longitude that it is west or east of the prime meridian.
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2. geography half of circle between poles: either half of the circle of the meridian, from pole to pole
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3. astronomy celestial great circle: a great circle of the celestial sphere that passes through the celestial poles and the zenith of the observer
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4. Midwestern U.S. roads
Same as median strip
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5. alternative medicine line of acupuncture points: in acupuncture, one of the pathways in the body along which the body's energy is believed to flow and along which acupuncture points are located
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6. highest point: the peak or a high point, e.g. of development or success
(
literary
)
  the decade when the empire's power reached its meridian
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| [14th century. Directly or via French< Latin meridianum< meridies "midday," alteration of medidies< medius "middle" + dies "day"] |
