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west

 - 11 dictionary results

west

  [west]
Use west in a Sentence
–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. Abbreviation: W
2. the direction in which this point lies.
3. (usually initial capital letter) a region or territory situated in this direction, esp. the western part of the U.S., as distinguished from the East: a vacation trip through the West.
4. (initial capital letter) the western part of the world, as distinguished from the East or Orient; the Occident.
5. (initial capital letter) the non-Communist countries of Western Europe and the Americas.
–adjective
6. directed or proceeding toward the west.
7. coming from the west: a west wind.
8. lying toward or situated in the west.
9. Ecclesiastical. designating, lying toward, or in that part of a church opposite to and farthest from the altar.
–adverb
10. to, toward, or in the west: The car headed west.
11. from the west: The wind blew west.
—Idiom
12. go west, Informal. to die.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME, OE; c. D, G west, ON vestr; cf. F ouest, OF < OE

West

  [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, 1892?–1980, U.S. actress.
4. Nathanael (Nathan Wallenstein Weinstein), 1902?–40, U.S. novelist.
5. Paul, born 1930, 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.

 
western.
Also, west.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To west
west   (wěst)   
n.  

  1. Abbr. W

    1. The cardinal point on the mariner's compass 270° clockwise from due north and directly opposite east.

    2. The direction opposite to the direction of the earth's axial rotation.

    3. The western part of the earth, especially Europe and the Western Hemisphere.

    4. The western part of a region or country.

    5. A historical region of the United States west of the Allegheny Mountains.

    6. The region of the United States west of the Mississippi River.

    7. The United States, Canada, and the noncommunist countries of Europe, especially during the Cold War.

    8. The nations of North America and Europe with developed capitalist economies, especially in contrast to less-developed nations.

  2. An area or region lying in the west.

  3. often West

    1. The western part of the earth, especially Europe and the Western Hemisphere.

    2. The western part of a region or country.

    3. A historical region of the United States west of the Allegheny Mountains.

    4. The region of the United States west of the Mississippi River.

    5. The United States, Canada, and the noncommunist countries of Europe, especially during the Cold War.

    6. The nations of North America and Europe with developed capitalist economies, especially in contrast to less-developed nations.

  4. often West

    1. A historical region of the United States west of the Allegheny Mountains.

    2. The region of the United States west of the Mississippi River.

    3. The United States, Canada, and the noncommunist countries of Europe, especially during the Cold War.

    4. The nations of North America and Europe with developed capitalist economies, especially in contrast to less-developed nations.

adj.  

  1. To, toward, of, facing, or in the west.

  2. Originating in or coming from the west: a gentle west wind.

adv.  In, from, or toward the west.

[Middle English, from Old English; see wes-pero- in Indo-European roots.]
West, Benjamin 1738-1820.  
American painter. The first American to study art in Italy (1760-1763), he settled in England and quickly became a prominent artist. The Death of General Wolfe (1770) is among his most important works.
West, Jerome Alan Known as "Jerry." Born 1938.  
American basketball player, coach, and general manager. As guard for the Los Angeles Lakers (1960-1973), he became one of the National Basketball Association's all-time scoring leaders, and as coach and general manager he helped lead the Lakers to five world championships.
West, Mae 1892?-1980.  
American actress known for her sultry stage persona. Her films include I'm No Angel (1933) and My Little Chickadee (1940).
West, Nathanael Pen name of Nathan Weinstein. 1903-1940.  
American writer known for his novels of dark comedy, such as Miss Lonelyhearts (1933) and The Day of the Locust (1939).
West, Dame Rebecca Pen name of Cicily Isabel Fairfield Andrews. 1892-1983.  
British writer and critic whose works include psychological novels, such as The Judge (1922), critical studies, as of Henry James (1916), a historical study of Yugoslavia (1942), and several reports on the Nuremberg trials.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

west 
O.E. west "in or toward the west," from P.Gmc. *wes-t- (cf. O.N. vestr, O.Fris., M.Du., Du. west, O.H.G. -west, only in compounds, Ger. west), from PIE *wes- (source of Gk. hesperos, L. vesper "evening, west"), perhaps an enlarged form of base *we- "to go down" (cf. Skt. avah "downward"), and thus lit. "direction in which the sun sets." Cf. also High Ger. dial. abend "west," lit. "evening." Fr. ouest, Sp. oeste are from Eng. West used in geopolitical sense from World War I (Britain, France, Italy, as opposed to Germany and Austria-Hungary); as contrast to Communist Russia (later to the Soviet bloc) it is first recorded in 1918. West Indies is recorded from 1555. The verb wester "to go west" is recorded from c.1374; westerly first recorded 1577 in both its (somewhat contradictory) senses of "coming from the west" and "facing toward the west."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Idioms & Phrases

west

see go west.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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