MERIDIAN Meaning and
Definition
-
Meridian refers to a line of longitude on the Earth's surface. It is an imaginary line that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole and connects points of equal longitude. Meridians are an essential component of the geographic coordinate system used to determine locations on the Earth's surface. The prime meridian, also known as the Greenwich meridian, is the line of longitude that passes through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. It serves as the reference point for measuring longitude and divides the Earth into the Eastern Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere.
In a broader sense, meridian can also refer to the highest point or peak of achievement, especially in reference to one's career or lifetime. It is synonymous with pinnacle, zenith, or culmination. This definition is derived from the concept of the meridian in astrology, which is the highest point reached by a celestial body in its daily motion across the sky. It symbolizes the peak or climax of influence or power.
Furthermore, in traditional Chinese medicine, meridians are believed to be channels through which vital energy, known as Qi, flows throughout the body. This energy is said to link various organs and systems, and the balance and flow of Qi through the meridians are believed to be essential for maintaining health and well-being.
-
• In geog., an imaginary great circle on the surface of the earth, supposed to pass through the poles and any given place, cutting the equator at right angles; in astron., a great circle of the sphere passing through the poles of the heavens and the zenith of the spectator which is crossed at mid-day; the brass ring surrounding a globe on which the degrees are marked-meridians are so called because they mark all places that have noon at the same instant; mid-day or noon; the highest point of anything.
• Being on the meridian or at mid-day; pert. to the highest point.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Top Common Misspellings for MERIDIAN *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for MERIDIAN
Etymology of MERIDIAN
The word "meridian" comes from the Latin word "meridianus", which means "of midday" or "pertaining to noon". It is derived from the Latin noun "meridies", meaning "midday" or "noon". "Meridies" is a combination of the adverb "medius" (meaning "middle" or "mid") and "dies" (meaning "day"). Therefore, "meridian" originally referred to a midday sun, but its meaning evolved to describe the imaginary line passing through the sky from north to south, connecting the North Pole to the South Pole, and dividing the earth into two halves - the Eastern and Western hemispheres. It is currently used in geography and astronomy to denote these lines of longitude.
Idioms with the word MERIDIAN
Similar spelling words for MERIDIAN
- Horse-marten,
- MORITANI,
- Marteina,
- 4-martin,
- Martina,
- mardana,
- Free-martin,
- Merten,
- meridiano,
- maradana,
- moerdani,
- lockheed-martin,
- martynia,
- Mardyn,
- myriaton,
- mortain,
- Martini-Henry,
- merredin,
- Peabody-Martini,
- Martyne,
- maradona,
- maritain,
- craig-martin,
- three-martini,
- Marteena,
- moortown,
- martigny,
- martiny,
- meriting,
- mauretania,
- mauritanie,
- mauritania,
- mardini,
- mairtine,
- meridiani,
- mardin,
- Murton,
- Francini-Martini,
- morden,
- meriden,
- post-meridian,
- murten,
- Martenn,
- moreton,
- Martoni,
- MARDAN,
- merteen,
- saint-martin,
- martineau,
- martin-baker,
- marten,
- mortagne,
- mortagne-du-nord,
- murdiono,
- Martino,
- martin-in-the-fields,
- martinho,
- m.martin,
- prime-meridian,
- ex-meridian,
- martonyi,
- jean-martin,
- morton,
- meridional,
- Maritina,
- Martynne,
- Martyn,
- meridiana,
- martone,
- myrtanae,
- maratona,
- muritaniya,
- maretin,
- martinu,
- Myrton,
- maritana,
- Mardine,
- martini,
- Marden,
- merton,
- Martijn,
- Marton,
- Mardon,
- Myrddin,
- Martien,
- Morten,
- moreton-in-marsh,
- martan,
- Maarten,
- murdannia,
- meridione,
- mirrodin,
- bank-martin,
- Black-martin,
- TRANS-MERIDIAN,
- martin,
- Martine,
- meridien,
- saint-martin-de-varreville.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
