south

[ noun adjective adverb south; verb south, south ]

noun

1. a cardinal point of the compass lying directly opposite north. : S
2. the direction in which this point lies.
3. (usually initial capital letter) a region or territory situated in this direction.
4. the South, the general area south of Pennsylvania and the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi, consisting mainly of those states that formed the Confederacy.

adjective

1. lying toward or situated in the south; directed or proceeding toward the south.
2. coming from the south, as a wind.

adverb

1. to, toward, or in the south.
2. Informal. into a state of serious decline, loss, or the like:

   Sales went south during the recession.

verb (used without object)

1. to turn or move in a southerly direction.
2. Astronomy. to cross the meridian.

South

¹

/ saʊθ /

noun

1. the southern part of England, generally regarded as lying to the south of an imaginary line between the Wash and the Severn
2. in the US
   1. the area approximately south of Pennsylvania and the Ohio River, esp those states south of the Mason-Dixon line that formed the Confederacy during the Civil War
   2. the Confederacy itself
3. the countries of the world that are not economically and technically advanced

adjective

1. 1. of or denoting the southern part of a specified country, area, etc
   2. ( capital as part of a name )

      the South Pacific

south

²

/ saʊθ /

noun

1. one of the four cardinal points of the compass, at 180° from north and 90° clockwise from east and anticlockwise from west
2. the direction along a meridian towards the South Pole
3. the south
   often capital any area lying in or towards the south meridionalaustral
4. usually capital cards the player or position at the table corresponding to south on the compass

adjective

1. situated in, moving towards, or facing the south
2. (esp of the wind) from the south

adverb

1. in, to, or towards the south
2. archaic.
   (of the wind) from the south

Word History and Origins

Origin of south¹

before 900; Middle English suth ( e ), south ( e ) (adv., adj., and noun), Old English sūth (adv. and adj.); cognate with Old High German sund-

Word History and Origins

Origin of south¹

Old English sūth; related to Old Norse suthr southward, Old High German sundan from the south

Idioms and Phrases

see go south .

Example Sentences

The pace is slower here than on Maui’s developed west and south sides.

From Washington Post

There’s also a lot of storminess to watch, including a storm rolling by to the south tonight.

From Washington Post

However, conservative elites sidelined the president politically and reduced his role in the national independence to insurgency in the south.

From Washington Post

Another round is possible Thursday night, especially south of the Beltway.

From Washington Post

Camacho was found in the Langley Park and Lewisdale area, about a half-mile south of University Boulevard.

From Washington Post

He prepared operations south of Samarra and north of Baghdad.

From The Daily Beast

He was born in an apartment above the grocery store owned by his immigrant parents in South Jamaica, Queens.

From The Daily Beast

Still, for all of this, South Carolina is now represented in the U.S. Senate by Tim Scott, a Republican and an African-American.

From The Daily Beast

But South Koreans have a troubled history with American intervention in Korean markets.

From The Daily Beast

In response to the screen quota cut, South Korea established a “cinema tax” on the box office.

From The Daily Beast

Descending the Alps to the east or south into Piedmont, a new world lies around and before you.

From Project Gutenberg

Then with your victorious legions you can march south and help drive the Yankee invaders from the land.

From Project Gutenberg

The Potato is planted very sparingly south of Piedmont, and not so commonly there as in Savoy.

From Project Gutenberg

If we can free this State of Yankees, we will accomplish more than your armies down south have.

From Project Gutenberg

Between South and North, the probabilities of a serious, and no very distant rupture, are strong and manifest.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• freezing
• frigid
• glacial
• icy