meridian

noun

me·rid·i·an mə-ˈri-dē-ən

Synonyms of meridian next

a(1)

: a great circle on the surface of the earth passing through the poles

(2)

: the half of such a circle included between the poles

: a representation of such a circle or half circle numbered for longitude (see longitude sense 1) on a map or globe see longitude illustration

: a great circle of the celestial sphere passing through its poles and the zenith of a given place see azimuth illustration

: any of the pathways along which the body's vital energy flows according to the theory behind acupuncture

: a high point (as of development or prosperity)

the problem of the unmarried don after he had passed the meridian—

H. J. Laski

archaic : the hour of noon : midday

meridian adjective

Example Sentences

a lawyer at the meridian of his career arguing a case before the U.S. Supreme Court

Recent Examples on the Web From an Eastern perspective, acupuncture works by balancing the flow of qi (chi), also known as energy, which moves through meridians, or channels in your body. —

Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 24 Mar. 2023 For those seeking a more gentle water treatment, aquatic energy balancing works with the chakras and meridians to clear energy blockages while guests float in the water. —

Anna Haines, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2023 Radiating out from the center are twelve meridians—the first chronometers were created in order to determine these imaginary time boundaries—which continue on the wide, curved glass found on the caseback. —

Carol Besler, Robb Report, 1 Mar. 2023 Named after the 135° East meridian that crosses Akashi City in the Hyogo prefecture of Japan, 135 is an east-meets-west spirit that’s totally unique. —

Elizabeth Brownfield, Forbes, 11 June 2022 And how the ground on which Clint Eastwood and others shot was by the Mediterranean, not beneath the American blood meridian. —

Josh St. Clair, Men's Health, 23 May 2022 There is also this simple calculator via Sky & Telescope magazine, which will give you the approximate times the Red Spot transits Jupiter’s central meridian for any date. —

Geoff Gaherty, Scientific American, 30 Nov. 2012 Another landed on the dirt meridian that divided the lanes. —

Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2019 There’s also a glow-in-the-dark cove and an ASMR tunnel for slime’s visual and auditory qualities, further ballyhooing the restful and spine-tingly autonomous sensory meridian response that has exploded in no-talking videos on YouTube. —

BostonGlobe.com, 25 Oct. 2019 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'meridian.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French meridien, from meridien of noon, from Latin meridianus, from meridies noon, south, irregular from medius mid + dies day — more at mid, deity

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5

Time Traveler

The first known use of meridian was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Meridian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meridian. Accessed 30 May. 2023.

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Kids Definition

meridian

noun

me·rid·i·an mə-ˈrid-ē-ən

: the highest point reached

: an imaginary circle on the earth's surface passing through the north and south poles

: the half of such a circle included between the poles

: a line on a globe or map representing such a circle or half circle and numbered by degrees of longitude

Etymology

Middle English meridien "midday," from early French meridien (same meaning), derived from Latin meridies "noon," from meri- (altered form of medius "middle") and dies "day" — related to diary, median entry 1