south
a cardinal point of the compass lying directly opposite north. Abbreviation: S
the direction in which this point lies.
(usually initial capital letter) a region or territory situated in this direction.
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.
lying toward or situated in the south; directed or proceeding toward the south.
coming from the south, as a wind.
to, toward, or in the south.
Informal. into a state of serious decline, loss, or the like: Sales went south during the recession.
to turn or move in a southerly direction.
Astronomy. to cross the meridian.
Origin of south
1Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
British Dictionary definitions for south (1 of 2)
/ (saʊθ) /
one of the four cardinal points of the compass, at 180° from north and 90° clockwise from east and anticlockwise from west
the direction along a meridian towards the South Pole
the south (often capital) any area lying in or towards the south: Related adjectives: meridional, austral
(usually capital) cards the player or position at the table corresponding to south on the compass
situated in, moving towards, or facing the south
(esp of the wind) from the south
in, to, or towards the south
archaic (of the wind) from the south
Origin of south
1- Symbol: S
British Dictionary definitions for South (2 of 2)
/ (saʊθ) /
the southern part of England, generally regarded as lying to the south of an imaginary line between the Wash and the Severn
(in the US)
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
the Confederacy itself
the countries of the world that are not economically and technically advanced
of or denoting the southern part of a specified country, area, etc
(capital as part of a name): the South Pacific
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with south
see go south.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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