meridian - Dictionary Definition : Vocabulary.com

The word meridian describes a gigantic imaginary circle that runs north and south on the earth's surface, from the North Pole to the South Pole. If you stood on the meridian at the North Pole, you would be at the earth's northernmost point.

Meridian can also refer to the highest stage of development. The meridian of your chess career may have been when you took out the champ from a rival school. Used as an adjective, meridian can describe something that's at the best stage of development. Your favorite skater was at his meridian form when he won the Olympic gold medal. Meridian can also mean something takes place at noon, like your meridian boat voyage that launched precisely at noon.

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: meridian

1	n	an imaginary great circle on the surface of the earth passing through the north and south poles at right angles to the equator
2	n adj	the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development being at the best stage of development
3	adj	of or happening at noon

FULL DEFINITIONS OF: meridian

1

n an imaginary great circle on the surface of the earth passing through the north and south poles at right angles to the equator

“all points on the same meridian have the same longitude”

Synonyms:: line of longitude

Examples:: International Date Line
an imaginary line on the surface of the earth following (approximately) the 180th meridian; Greenwich Meridian
the meridian passing through Greenwich; was internationally adopted as the earth's zero of longitude in 1884

Types:: observer's meridian
a meridian that passes through the observer's zenith; prime meridian
meridian at zero degree longitude from which east and west are reckoned (usually the Greenwich longitude in England); magnetic meridian
an imaginary line passing through both magnetic poles of the Earth

Type of:: great circle
a circular line on the surface of a sphere formed by intersecting it with a plane passing through the center

2

n the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development

Synonyms:: acme, elevation, height, peak, pinnacle, summit, superlative, tiptop, top

Type of:: degree, level, point, stage
a specific identifiable position in a continuum or series or especially in a process

adj being at the best stage of development

Synonyms:: prime

: mature
having reached full natural growth or development

3

adj of or happening at noon

“meridian hour”