Word: Northwest

Pronunciation

/ˌnɔːθˈwest/

Definitions

• Adjective: Situated in, moving toward, or facing the direction between north and west; the compass point that is one-quarter of the way around from due north, at 315°. Example: “The house is located to the northwest of the city center.”
• Noun: The direction or point on the compass lying halfway between north and west. Example: “They sailed towards the northwest in search of new lands.”

Phrase

• Northwest passage: A hypothetical sea route through the Arctic Ocean, along the northern coast of North America, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
• In the northwest corner: Referring to a location situated in the area where the two sides meet at the northwest point, e.g., “The old lighthouse stands in the northwest corner of the island.”

Example Sentences

• Adjective: “The strong winds blew in from the northwest.”
• Noun: “The plane took off and headed in a northeasterly direction towards the opposite side of the country.”

Synonyms

• Nor’west (informal)
• N.W. (abbreviation)
• Upper left quadrant (geographical reference)

Note: While ‘northwest’ primarily functions as an adjective and noun describing direction, it can also be used metaphorically to describe a region or area in the corresponding direction relative to a specific location. For instance, “the northwest region of the United States.”