southwest

Everyday

1. Southwest is the direction halfway between south and west. tree →
2. The southwest of a country is the part in that direction, like the Southwest of the USA or the South West of England. tree →

In the lessons

In geography and maps, southwest is one of the eight main compass points, written SW. On a compass it is halfway between S and W, 225 degrees from north. Wind is named for where it comes from: a southwest wind blows from the southwest. Phrases: «in the southwest», «to the southwest», «south-west of».

Examples

• The wind is blowing from the southwest. tree →
• Cornwall is in the south-west of England. tree →
• Arizona is in the American Southwest. tree →
• Walk southwest until you reach the river. tree →
• On the map, the lake is southwest of the village. tree →
• Southwest is written SW on a compass. tree →
• The southwest corner of the park has a playground. tree →
• The birds flew southwest for the winter. tree →
• A young moon, like a bright bent bow, climbed up from the southwest horizon a little way into the sky. tree →

Note

Spelled as one word (southwest, mostly US) or with a hyphen (south-west, often UK). Capitalised when it names a region (the Southwest). In maths and maps: southwest is 225 degrees on a compass, exactly between south (180) and west (270). Turning from north to southwest is turning 135 degrees anticlockwise.

In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: In Sefer Yetzirah it is one of twelve directions in space, which tradition connects to the twelve months and the twelve tribes. In the primary lessons: In geography and maps, southwest is one of the eight main compass points, written SW. On a compass it is halfway between S and W, 225 degrees from north. Wind is named for where it comes from: a southwest wind blows from the southwest. Phrases: «in the southwest», «to the southwest», «south-west of».

Examples

• These symbolize also twelve directions in space: northeast, southeast, the east above, the east below, the northwest, southwest, the west above, the west below, the upper south, the lower south, the upper north, the lower north. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1887) tree →

Note

Spelled as one word (southwest, mostly US) or with a hyphen (south-west, often UK). Capitalised when it names a region (the Southwest). In maths and maps: southwest is 225 degrees on a compass, exactly between south (180) and west (270). Turning from north to southwest is turning 135 degrees anticlockwise.