west

¹

[ west ]

noun

1. a cardinal point of the compass, 90° to the left when facing north, corresponding to the point where the sun is seen to set. : W
2. the direction in which this point lies.
3. (usually initial capital letter) a region or territory situated in this direction, especially the western part of the U.S., as distinguished from the East:

   a vacation trip through the West.

4. the West,
   1. the western part of the world, as distinguished from the East or Orient; the Occident.
   2. the non-Communist countries of Western Europe and the Americas.

adjective

1. directed or proceeding toward the west.
2. coming from the west:

   a west wind.

3. lying toward or situated in the west.
4. Ecclesiastical. designating, lying toward, or in that part of a church opposite to and farthest from the altar.

adverb

1. to, toward, or in the west:

   The car headed west.

2. from the west:

   The wind blew west.

West

²

[ west ]

noun

1. Benjamin, 1738–1820, U.S. painter, in England after 1763.
2. Jerome Alan Jerry, born 1938, U.S. basketball player, coach, and executive.
3. Mae, 1893–1980, U.S. actress.
4. Nathanael Nathan Wallenstein Weinstein, 1902?–40, U.S. novelist.
5. Paul, 1930–2015, U.S. poet, essayist, and novelist, born in England.
6. Dame Rebecca Cicily Isabel Fairfield Andrews, 1892–1983, English novelist, journalist, and critic, born in Ireland.

West.

³

or west.

abbreviation for

1. western.

west

¹

/ wɛst /

noun

1. one of the four cardinal points of the compass, 270° clockwise from north and 180° from east
2. the direction along a parallel towards the sunset, at 270° clockwise from north
3. the west
   often capital any area lying in or towards the west HesperianOccidental
4. cards usually capital the player or position at the table corresponding to west on the compass

adjective

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

adverb

1. in, to, or towards the west
2. archaic.
   (of the wind) from the west
3. go west informal.
   1. to be lost or destroyed irrevocably
   2. to die

ˈWest

²

/ wɛst /

noun

1. WestBenjamin17381820MUSARTS AND CRAFTS: painter Benjamin. 1738–1820, US painter, in England from 1763
2. WestKanye1977MUSMUSIC: rap singer Kanye , born 1977, US rap singer and producer; his albums include The College Dropout (2004) and Graduation (2007)
3. WestMae18921980FUSFILMS AND TV: actress Mae. 1892–1980, US film actress
4. WestNathanael19031940MUSWRITING: novelist Nathanael, real name Nathan Weinstein. 1903–40, US novelist: author of Miss Lonely-Hearts (1933) and The Day of the Locust (1939)
5. WestRebecca, Dame18921983FBritishWRITING: journalistWRITING: novelistWRITING: critic Dame Rebecca, real name Cicily Isabel Andrews (née Fairfield ). 1892–1983, British journalist, novelist, and critic

West

³

/ wɛst /

noun

1. the western part of the world contrasted historically and culturally with the East or Orient; the Occident
2. (formerly) the non-Communist countries of Europe and America contrasted with the Communist states of the East Compare East
3. in the US
   1. that part of the US lying approximately to the west of the Mississippi
   2. (during the Colonial period) the region outside the 13 colonies, lying mainly to the west of the Alleghenies
4. (in the ancient and medieval world) the Western Roman Empire and, later, the Holy Roman Empire

adjective

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

      the West Coast

Word History and Origins

Origin of west¹

First recorded before 900; from Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch, German west, Old Norse vestr; compare French ouest, Old French from Old English

Word History and Origins

Origin of west¹

Old English; related to Old Norse vestr, Sanskrit avástāt, Latin vesper evening, Greek hésperos

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. go west, Informal. to die.

More idioms and phrases containing west

see go west .

Example Sentences

The Elizabeth line stretches from Reading, in Berkshire, and Heathrow Airport, in west London, to Abbey Wood, in south-east London, and Shenfield, in Essex.

From BBC

After being intimidated out of east Belfast, the family moved to west Belfast and set up home in the Divis flats on the Falls Road.

From BBC

“It’s bombing out hundreds of miles west of the shoreline.”

From Los Angeles Times

Back in the mid 2000s, just after the ban, Mr John was leader of the Carmarthenshire Hunt in rural west Wales.

From BBC

But the front line creeps ever closer, with Russia also threatening to encircle defenders from the north and west.

From BBC