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north-northwest

American  
[nawrth-nawrth-west, nawr-nawr-west] / ˈnɔrθˌnɔrθˈwɛst, ˈnɔrˌnɔrˈwɛst /

noun

  1. the point on the compass midway between north and northwest. NNW


adjective

  1. coming from this point.

    a north-northwest wind.

  2. directed toward this point.

    a north-northwest course.

adverb

  1. toward this point.

    sailing north-northwest.

north-northwest British  

noun

  1. the point on the compass or the direction midway between northwest and north, 337° 30′ clockwise from north

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. in, from, or towards this direction

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of north-northwest

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at north, northwest

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

And in map view, features on either side of the Seattle fault zone angle away from each other; north of the Seattle fault zone, structures are angled north-northwest, while in the south, they're oriented north-northeast.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 6, 2024

The storm, which crossed into the Pacific Ocean Sunday evening, was moving north-northwest Monday morning along the coast of El Salvador, according to the U.S.

From Reuters ● Oct. 10, 2022

Sunday’s pole shootout calls for a high temperature of 64 degrees, winds coming out of the north-northwest and a 60% chance of rain.

From Seattle Times ● May 19, 2022

The system was expected to reorganize and move to the north-northwest later Sunday, skirting past Cuba and the Yucatan Peninsula on Monday before entering the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday.

From Washington Times ● Oct. 25, 2020

The storms and the wind came from the north-northwest and they had the hill in back to protect them.

From "The River" by Gary Paulsen

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