Definition

1. Noun:

   • A compass point: The direction exactly midway between south and west, specifically at 225 degrees on a compass.
   • A location or region: An area that is in the southwestern part of a country, city, or other region.
   • A specific U.S. region: The southwestern region of the United States, typically including states like Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Nevada, and California.

2. Adjective:

   • Describing location or orientation: Situated in, facing, or moving toward the southwest.
   • Describing origin: Coming from the southwest direction, such as a wind.

3. Adverb:

   • Describing direction of movement: To, toward, or in the southwest.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The storm is approaching from the southwest. (Referring to the direction.)
  • We traveled through the arid landscapes of the Southwest. (Referring to the U.S. region.)
  • Their new house is in the southwest of the city. (Referring to a location within an area.)

• Adjective:

  • They live on the southwest side of the island. (Describing location.)
  • A strong southwest wind brought warm air. (Describing origin.)

• Adverb:

  • After the junction, continue driving southwest for five miles. (Describing direction of movement.)

Advanced Usage

• "southwest by south": A more precise compass point, one point (11.25 degrees) east of due southwest.
  • The ship adjusted its course to southwest by south.
• "southwest by west": A more precise compass point, one point (11.25 degrees) west of due southwest.
  • The navigation chart indicated a heading of southwest by west.

Variants and Related Words

• Southwesterly (adj/adv): An alternative form for the adjective and adverb meanings (coming from or toward the southwest).
  • The southwesterly breeze was refreshing.
• Southwestern (adj): Characteristic of or located in the southwest.
  • She loves southwestern cuisine.
• Southwestward (adj/adv): Toward the southwest.
  • They began their southwestward journey.

Synonyms

• Southwesterly (for adjective/adverb meanings).
• SW (abbreviation for the compass point).

Related Phrases

• To the southwest of: Located in a southwest direction relative to something else.
  • The village lies to the southwest of the capital.
• In a southwesterly direction: Moving or facing toward the southwest.
  • The birds migrated in a southwesterly direction.

Idioms

(This word is primarily geographical and does not have common idiomatic uses beyond its literal meaning.)

Adjective

1. situated in or oriented toward the southwest
2. coming from the southwest
   • the winds are southwesterly

Adverb

1. to, toward, or in the southwest

Noun

1. a location in the southwestern part of a country, region, or city
2. the direction corresponding to the southwestward compass point
3. the southwestern region of the United States generally including New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Nevada, California, and sometimes Utah and Colorado
4. the compass point midway between south and west; at 225 degrees