Southwest Meaning
/saʊθˈwɛst/Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe intercardinal compass point halfway between south and west; specifically at a bearing of 225°.
adjOf, in or pertaining to the southwest; southwestern.
Sentence Examples
The Naxi language is spoken in Southwest China.
The wind was going to come from the southwest.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
The arid climate of the ____ is characterized by cactus and low rainfall.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The beautiful sunset was clearly visible in the ____ sky as we walked back to our hotel.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English southwest, southewest, from Old English sūþwest and sūþanwestan, equivalent to south + west. Cognate with West Frisian súdwest, Dutch zuidwest, German Südwesten, Danish sydvest, Swedish sydväst.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"So this was my future home, I thought![…]Backed by towering hills, the but faintly discernible purple line of the French boundary off to the southwest, a sky of palest Gobelin flecked with fat, fleecy little clouds, it in truth looked a dear little city; the city of one's dreams."
— 1908, W[illiam] B[lair] M[orton] Ferguson, chapter IV, in Zollenstein, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC, page 40:
Explore More A1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The arid climate of the ____ is characterized by cactus and low rainfall.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The beautiful sunset was clearly visible in the ____ sky as we walked back to our hotel.