southwest

[ south-west; Nautical sou-west ]

noun
  1. the point or direction midway between south and west. Abbreviation: SW

  2. a region in this direction.

  1. the Southwest, the southwest region of the United States.

adjective
  1. lying toward, situated in, or directed toward the southwest.

  2. coming from the southwest, as a wind.

adverb
  1. in the direction midway between south and west.

Origin of southwest

1
before 900; Middle English; Old English sūthwest.See south, west

Other words from southwest

  • southwestern, adjective

Words Nearby southwest

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use southwest in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for southwest (1 of 2)

southwest

/ (ˌsaʊθˈwɛst, nautical ˌsaʊˈwɛst) /


noun
  1. the point of the compass or the direction midway between west and south, 225° clockwise from north

  2. (often cap usually preceded by the) any area lying in or towards this direction

adjectiveAlso: southwestern
  1. (sometimes capital) of or denoting the southwestern part of a specified country, area, etc: southwest Italy

  2. situated in or towards the southwest

  1. (esp of the wind) from the southwest

adverb
  1. in, to, towards, or (esp of the wind) from the southwest

  • Symbol: SW

Derived forms of southwest

  • southwesternmost, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for Southwest (2 of 2)

Southwest

/ (ˌsaʊθˈwɛst) /


noun
  1. the Southwest the southwestern part of Britain, esp Cornwall, Devon, and Somerset

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