# southwest

Pronunciation: US say "sowth-WEST" /saʊθˈwɛst/; UK

## Noun

1. The intercardinal compass point lying midway between west and south, at a bearing of exactly 225°.
   - Simple: The point on a compass halfway between south and west.
   - _The compass needle settled on southwest as we rounded the headland._
   - _Their farm lies to the southwest, just past the river bend._

## Adjective

2. Relating to, located in, or characteristic of the southwest.
   - Simple: Belonging to or found in the southwest part of a place.
   - _The southwest counties share a distinct culinary tradition._
   - _Much of the country's oil comes from its southwest provinces._
4. Situated toward or facing the direction of the southwest.
   - Simple: Facing or pointing toward the southwest.
   - _The building's southwest wall takes the brunt of the afternoon heat._
   - _Choose a southwest slope for vines that need long sun exposure._
5. Blowing or coming from the direction of the southwest.
   - Simple: Coming from the southwest, like a wind that blows from there.
   - _A strong southwest gale battered the harbor overnight._
   - _Sailors welcomed the steady southwest wind on the return voyage._

## Adverb

3. In the direction of the southwest, or moving that way.
   - Simple: Toward the direction that lies between south and west.
   - _The trail bends southwest after the old mill._
   - _They sailed southwest for three days before sighting land._

## Origin

From Middle English southwest, from Old English sūþwest and sūþanwestan, made from south plus west. It is related to Dutch zuidwest and German Südwesten.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/southwest (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).