Dictionary.com

northwest

[ nawrth-west; Nautical nawr-west ]
/ ˌnɔrθˈwɛst; Nautical ˌnɔrˈwɛst /

noun

adjective

coming from the northwest: a northwest wind.
directed toward the northwest: sailing a northwest course.

adverb

from the northwest.
toward the northwest: sailing northwest.

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Origin of northwest

before 900; Middle English, Old English; see north, west

OTHER WORDS FROM northwest

northwestern, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for northwest

British Dictionary definitions for northwest (1 of 3)

northwest
/ (ˌnɔːθˈwɛst, nautical ˌnɔːˈwɛst) /

noun

the point of the compass or direction midway between north and west, 315° clockwise from north
the northwest (often capital) any area lying in or towards this direction

adjective Also: northwestern

(sometimes capital) of or denoting the northwestern part of a specified country, area, etcnorthwest Greenland

adjective, adverb

in, to, towards, or (esp of the wind) from the northwest
Symbol: NW

Derived forms of northwest

northwesternmost, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for northwest (2 of 3)

Northwest
/ (ˌnɔːθˈwɛst) /

noun the Northwest

the northwestern part of England, esp Lancashire and the Lake District
the northwestern part of the US, consisting of the states of Washington, Oregon, and sometimes Idaho
(in Canada) the region north and west of the Great Lakes

British Dictionary definitions for northwest (3 of 3)

North West

noun

a province in N South Africa, created in 1994 from the NE part of Cape Province and part of Transvaal: agriculture and service industries. Capital: Mafikeng. Pop: 3 807 469 (2004 est). Area: 116 320 sq km (44 911 sq miles)
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