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southwest

[ south-west; Nautical sou-west ]
/ ˌsaʊθˈwɛst; Nautical ˌsaʊˈwɛst /
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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.
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Origin of southwest

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

OTHER WORDS FROM southwest

southwestern, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use southwest in a sentence

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
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