south

[south, south, south]

noun

1. a cardinal point of the compass lying directly opposite north. S

2. the direction in which this point lies.

3. (usually initial capital letter),  a region or territory situated in this direction.

4. the South, the general area south of Pennsylvania and the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi, consisting mainly of those states that formed the Confederacy.

adjective

1. lying toward or situated in the south; directed or proceeding toward the south.

2. coming from the south, as a wind.

adverb

1. to, toward, or in the south.

2. Informal.,  into a state of serious decline, loss, or the like.

   Sales went south during the recession.

verb (used without object)

1. to turn or move in a southerly direction.

2. Astronomy.,  to cross the meridian.

South

¹

/ saʊθ /

noun

1. the southern part of England, generally regarded as lying to the south of an imaginary line between the Wash and the Severn

2. 1. the area approximately south of Pennsylvania and the Ohio River, esp those states south of the Mason-Dixon line that formed the Confederacy during the Civil War

   2. the Confederacy itself

3. the countries of the world that are not economically and technically advanced

adjective

1. 1. of or denoting the southern part of a specified country, area, etc

   2. ( capital as part of a name )

      the South Pacific

south

²

/ saʊθ /

noun

1. one of the four cardinal points of the compass, at 180° from north and 90° clockwise from east and anticlockwise from west

2. the direction along a meridian towards the South Pole

3. (often capital) any area lying in or towards the south

4. (usually capital) cards the player or position at the table corresponding to south on the compass

adjective

1. situated in, moving towards, or facing the south

2. (esp of the wind) from the south

adverb

1. in, to, or towards the south

2. archaic,  (of the wind) from the south

Word History and Origins

Origin of south¹

before 900; Middle English suth ( e ), south ( e ) (adv., adj., and noun), Old English sūth (adv. and adj.); cognate with Old High German sund-

Word History and Origins

Origin of south¹

Old English sūth; related to Old Norse suthr southward, Old High German sundan from the south

Idioms and Phrases

see go south.

Example Sentences

According to public records and posts on social media, the 29-year-old has roots in Florida, Hollywood, Pacific Palisades and the south of France, where his parents did missionary work.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

High pressure is building in from the south keeping the weather dry and settled and the skies largely clear.

Read more on BBC

In the south of the Red Sea, near the Hanish Islands, a volcanic ridge separated the sea from the Indian Ocean.

Read more on Science Daily

"I don't even know where my original neighbours are – some went south, some were killed or injured. There are no neighbours anymore."

Read more on BBC

One of them was killed by Israeli forces while seeking aid to the south, medics said.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• freezing 
• frigid 
• glacial 
• icy