Definition

1. Adjective:

   • On the side away from the wind: Describes the side of an object, landmass, or vessel that is sheltered from or facing away from the direction from which the wind is blowing.
   • Example: The leeward side of the mountain is much drier.

2. Adverb:

   • Toward the lee side; in the direction away from the wind: Indicates movement or orientation to the sheltered side.
   • Example: The boat drifted leeward.

3. Noun:

   • The side sheltered from the wind: The side or direction that is opposite to the windward side.
   • The direction toward which the wind is blowing: This definition, while sometimes used, is less common and can be a source of confusion. The primary noun meaning is the sheltered side.
   • Example: We anchored on the leeward of the island for protection.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The leeward shore is calm and ideal for swimming.
  • Plant the garden on the leeward side of the house to shield it from strong winds.

• Adverb:

  • The sail was set leeward.
  • As the storm approached, the fleet moved leeward.

• Noun:

  • The harbor is located to the leeward.
  • The rain was less intense on the leeward.

Advanced Usage

• Nautical Context: In sailing, "leeward" is a critical term for navigation and tactics, often contrasted with "windward."
  • The leeward boat has right-of-way in some racing situations.
• Meteorological & Geographical Context: Used to describe climatic effects, such as rain shadows.
  • The leeward slopes of the mountains receive little precipitation.

Variants and Related Words

• Leewardly (adj., archaic): Having a tendency to drift to leeward.
• Leewardness (n.): The quality or state of being to leeward.
• Leeward is the base form; it does not have common comparative or superlative forms.

Synonyms

• Sheltered side (n.): The side protected from the wind.
• Downwind (adj., adv.): In or toward the direction the wind is blowing. (Note: This is often used interchangeably with "leeward," though purists note "downwind" refers to the wind's direction, while "leeward" refers to the sheltered side of an object.)
• Lee (n., adj.): A shorter, often synonymous form (e.g., ).

Antonyms

• Windward (adj., adv., n.): On or toward the side from which the wind is blowing; the side exposed to the wind.

Related Phrases

• To fall to leeward (phr.): To drift downwind, often unintentionally.
  • The damaged vessel began to fall to leeward.
• Leeward mark (n., sailing): A race buoy that must be rounded on the downwind side.
• Leeward position (n.): A tactical position in sailing where one boat is between another boat and the leeward side of the course.

Adjective

1. on the side away from the wind
   • on the leeward side of the island

Adverb

1. toward the wind
   • they were sailing leeward

Noun

1. the side of something that is sheltered from the wind
2. the direction in which the wind is blowing