northwest

noun

1. a point on the compass midway between north and west. Abbreviation: NW
2. a region in this direction.
3. the Northwest,
   1. the northwestern part of the United States, especially Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
   2. the northwestern part of the United States when its western boundary was the Mississippi River.
   3. the northwestern part of Canada.

adjective

4. Also north·west·ern. coming from the northwest: a northwest wind.
5. directed toward the northwest: sailing a northwest course.

adverb

6. from the northwest.
7. toward the northwest: sailing northwest.

noun

1. the point of the compass or direction midway between north and west, 315° clockwise from north
2. the northwest (often capital) any area lying in or towards this direction

adjective Also: northwestern

3. (sometimes capital) of or denoting the northwestern part of a specified country, area, etcnorthwest Greenland

adjective, adverb

4. in, to, towards, or (esp of the wind) from the northwest

noun the Northwest

1. the northwestern part of England, esp Lancashire and the Lake District
2. the northwestern part of the US, consisting of the states of Washington, Oregon, and sometimes Idaho
3. (in Canada) the region north and west of the Great Lakes

Old English norðwest (adv.); from north + west. As a noun from late 14c. Related: Northwestern; northwesterly; northwestward. Northwest Passage first attested c.1600.