1. Situated in, toward, or facing the north.
2. Coming from the north: northern breezes.
3. Native to or growing in the north.
4. often Northern Of, relating to, or characteristic of northern regions or the North.
5. Being north of the equator.

[Middle English northerne, from Old English.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.