southwest

[ south-west; Nautical sou-west ]
/ ˌsaʊθˈwɛst; Nautical ˌsaʊˈwɛst /

noun

the point or direction midway between south and west. Abbreviation: SW
a region in this direction.
the Southwest, the southwest region of the United States.

adjective

lying toward, situated in, or directed toward the southwest.
coming from the southwest, as a wind.

adverb

in the direction midway between south and west.

QUIZZES

DON’T VACILLATE! VANQUISH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

It’d be a real faux pas to miss this quiz on the words from August 3–9, 2020!
Question 1 of 7
What does “vacillate” mean?
to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.
to cause to be empty or unoccupied.
to assent tacitly; agree; consent.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of southwest

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

OTHER WORDS FROM southwest

southwestern, adjective

Words nearby southwest

southward, southwardly, southwards, Southwark, Southwell, southwest, South West Africa, southwest by south, southwest by west, southwester, southwesterly
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for southwest

British Dictionary definitions for southwest (1 of 2)

southwest
/ (ˌsaʊθˈwɛst, nautical ˌsaʊˈwɛst) /

noun

the point of the compass or the direction midway between west and south, 225° clockwise from north
(often cap usually preceded by the) any area lying in or towards this direction

adjective Also: southwestern

(sometimes capital) of or denoting the southwestern part of a specified country, area, etcsouthwest Italy
situated in or towards the southwest
(esp of the wind) from the southwest

adverb

in, to, towards, or (esp of the wind) from the southwest
Symbol: SW

Derived forms of southwest

southwesternmost, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for southwest (2 of 2)

Southwest
/ (ˌsaʊθˈwɛst) /

noun

the Southwest the southwestern part of Britain, esp Cornwall, Devon, and Somerset
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