southern

1. 1
   located southadjective

   Located in, facing toward, or connected with the south.

   The southern slopes of the mountain stay warmer through the winter.

   Her bedroom window faces the southern side of the courtyard.

   UsageUses more and most (more southern), and southernmost for the farthest south: the southernmost point.

   Similarsouth, southward

   Oppositenorthern, north

2. 2
   adjective

   Belonging to or characteristic of a particular region in the south, especially Southern Europe or the southern United States.

   The festival celebrates southern music, food, and storytelling.

   He greeted us with a warm southern drawl.

   UsageUsually a capital S in a fixed name (Southern Europe), a small s for part of a country (southern Thailand).

   Oppositenorthern

   Note

   Here the word stops pointing and starts naming a region with a character of its own: its climate, its accent, its cooking. A southern drawl says something about a people; a southern window belongs to the plain directional sense.

3. 3
   of windadjective

   Of a wind, blowing from the south or coming from a southerly direction.

   A gentle southern wind warmed the valley as the sun set.

   The kite climbed higher when the southern breeze grew stronger.

   UsageA southern wind blows from the south; southerly means the same and can replace it.

   Similarsoutherly, south

   Oppositenortherly, north

   Note

   Winds are named for where they come from, not where they are heading. That reverses the logic of the directional sense: a southern slope faces south, but a southern wind blows out of the south toward the north.

Showing meanings only. Show all 4