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

Turkish security forces found the wreckage of the aircraft near a village, less than 40 miles southwest of the capital, the interior minister said.

From The Wall Street Journal

The musicians' exhortation -- made on June 28 at the open-air festival held in southwest England -- led to the BBC saying it would no longer live-broadcast musical performances deemed "high risk".

From Barron's

Trumpf, a large mechanical engineering group based in southwest Germany, said in October it would use its expertise in lasers to build drone defense systems, joining with a local electronics group.

From The Wall Street Journal

Yunnan, in China’s southwest, draws intrepid travelers for its mountain scenery, rare tea and villages where traditions persevere.

From The Wall Street Journal

Even as much of the West is overdue for fire, the southwest is dealing with the reverse situation.

From Science Daily