southwest

American  

[south-west, sou-west] / ˌsaʊθˈwɛst, ˌsaʊˈwɛst /

noun

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

2. a region in this direction.

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

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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.

southwest ¹ British  

/ ˌsaʊˈwɛst, ˌsaʊθˈwɛst /

noun

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

2. any area lying in or towards this direction

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adjective

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

   southwest Italy

2. situated in or towards the southwest

3. (esp of the wind) from the southwest

adverb

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

Southwest ² British  

/ ˌsaʊθˈwɛst /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• southwestern adjective
• southwesternmost adjective

Etymology

Origin of southwest

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

Example Sentences

The fossil remains were recovered from fissure deposits located on both sides of the Bristol Channel in southern Wales and southwest England.

From Science Daily

The National Weather Service issued extreme heat warnings Friday for much of the southwest, ranging from Los Angeles and coastal southern California to the desert gambling capital of Las Vegas.

From Barron's

The Shah gas field, southwest of Abu Dhabi and home to the world’s largest ultrasour gas operation, had a drone strike Tuesday.

From The Wall Street Journal

"It's too small a move to sway the larger forces at play in the Gulf," he cautioned, even though it could help cool costs in the northeast or southwest.

From Barron's

On Sunday lunchtime, it was 50 nautical miles southwest of Malta.

From Barron's