westerly

¹ American  

[wes-ter-lee] / ˈwɛs tər li /

adjective

1. moving, directed, or situated toward the west.

   the westerly end of the field.

2. (especially of a wind) coming from the west.

   a westerly gale.

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adverb

1. toward the west.

   to escape westerly.

2. from the west.

   a sharp wind blowing westerly.

noun

PLURAL

westerlies

1. a wind that blows from the west.

   an occasional westerly that pommeled the island.

2. (used with a plural verb)  westerlies, any semipermanent belt of westerly winds, especially those that prevail at latitudes lying between the tropical and polar regions of the earth.

Westerly ² American  

[wes-ter-lee] / ˈwɛs tər li /

noun

1. a town in SW Rhode Island.

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westerly British  

/ ˈwɛstəlɪ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or situated in the west

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adverb

1. towards or in the direction of the west

2. (esp of the wind) from the west

noun

1. a wind blowing from the west

westerly Scientific  

/ wĕs′tər-lē /

1. A wind, especially a prevailing wind, that blows from the west. The prevailing winds in the middle latitudes are westerlies.

2. See illustration at wind

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westerly Cultural  

1. See prevailing westerlies.

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Other Word Forms

• westerliness noun

Etymology

Origin of westerly

1570–80; west + -erly, as in easterly

Example Sentences

Strengthening westerly winds are already pushing the deep water closer to the surface.

From Science Daily

Scientists have also found that in a warming world, the growing interaction between westerly disturbances and monsoons is producing another unusual result.

From BBC

However, as it often the case this time of year, as we transition out of summer and into autumn, we're now seeing a more westerly influence to the weather.

From BBC

Meteorologists say it was mainly because of the interaction between the already existing monsoon system in the Indian subcontinent and westerly disturbances, a low pressure system that originates in the Mediterranean region and travels eastward.

From BBC

India's weather agency said the floods are being caused by the repeated interactions between monsoon currents and weather systems like westerly disturbances.

From BBC