intercardinal point
Very lowTechnical
Definition
Meaning
A compass direction halfway between two cardinal points (north, east, south, west); a secondary direction such as northeast, southeast, southwest, or northwest.
A precise directional concept in navigation, cartography, meteorology, and surveying; used metaphorically to indicate a midpoint between two extremes or fundamental positions.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is almost exclusively used in technical contexts like navigation and meteorology. It refers precisely to the four main intercardinal points (NE, SE, SW, NW). Points like 'north-northeast' are intermediate points, not strictly intercardinal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition or technical usage. The term is identically specialised in both varieties.
Connotations
None beyond the technical, geographic connotation.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general language in both varieties, used only in specific technical domains.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[The] [wind] [is coming] FROM the intercardinal point[They] [sailed] TOWARDS the intercardinal point[The map] [marks] [four] intercardinal pointsVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Take an intercardinal direction (to find a middle path or compromise).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in geography, cartography, or meteorology papers when describing wind directions or precise location.
Everyday
Virtually never used. Most people say 'northeast' etc.
Technical
Primary context. Used in navigation, surveying, and aviation to specify precise bearings and directions.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The wind had an intercardinal direction, making sailing tricky.
- The surveyor calculated the intercardinal bearings.
American English
- The storm approached from an intercardinal direction.
- Map legends often denote intercardinal points in smaller type.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The four main intercardinal points are northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest.
- Modern compasses show both cardinal and intercardinal points for more precise navigation.
- The meteorologist noted that the wind was shifting towards an intercardinal point.
- In advanced cartography, the precise calculation of an intercardinal point's bearing is fundamental to geodesy.
- The ancient mariners navigated primarily by the stars, paying less heed to the precise intercardinal points marked on modern charts.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a COMPASS ROSE: the CARDINAL points (N, E, S, W) are the main four. The points BETWEEN them are INTER-CARDINAL.
Conceptual Metaphor
A MIDPOINT BETWEEN TWO FUNDAMENTALS (e.g., 'His political stance was an intercardinal point between socialism and liberalism').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'промежуточный пункт' (intermediate point/stop). The term refers specifically to compass directions.
- In Russian, it is typically rendered as 'промежуточная/вторичная сторона света' or 'румб' in nautical contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'intercardinal point' to refer to any intermediate point (e.g., NNE). It refers specifically to NE, SE, SW, NW.
- Pronouncing 'intercardinal' with the stress on the first syllable (IN-ter-cardinal). Correct stress is on the third syllable (in-ter-CARD-in-al).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'intercardinal point' MOST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a compass direction halfway between two cardinal points. The four main ones are northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest.
No. Strictly speaking, intercardinal points refer only to the four main intermediate directions (NE, SE, SW, NW). 'North-northwest' is an intermediate or tertiary point.
No, it is a very low-frequency, technical term. In everyday speech, people simply say 'northeast' or 'southwest'.
In technical contexts, it is also called an 'ordinal direction' or, more generally, a 'compass point'.