West

See also: west

English

Etymology

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /wɛst/
  • Audio (UK):(file)
  • Audio (US):(file)

Proper noun

West (countable and uncountable, plural Wests)

  1. Any of various particular regions named for the cardinal direction in which they lie.
    Comeronyms: North, South, East, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest
    1. The western world; i.e. the United States, Canada, Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
    2. (historical) The Western Bloc (the non-communist nations of Europe and America).
      • 1994 [1994 March 30], Richard Nixon, “Author's Note”, in Beyond Peace[1], New York: Random House, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 253:
        When I came to Washington forty-seven years ago, the predominant issue was ensuring that the United States would step up to the communist threat, both abroad and at home. The ultimate satisfaction is to have lived long enough to see the West defeat communism and begin a new, equally arduous, equally noble campaign to ensure the victory of freedom, both abroad and at home.
      • 2022 August 24, Steve Scherer, Ismail Shakil, “China warns of 'forceful measures' if Canada interferes in Taiwan”, in Tomasz Janowski, editor, Reuters[2], archived from the original on 24 August 2022, World‎[3]:
        The relationship between China and the West has worsened since U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan earlier this month against Beijing's wishes.
    3. (US) The Western United States (sometimes excluding the West Coast), particularly (historical) in reference to the 19th century Wild West.
      Comeronyms: North, South, East, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest
    4. (historical) The Western Roman Empire, or its successors.
    5. (Christianity) The part of the Christian Church whose traditions and practices originated in the territories of the former Western Roman Empire, including the Roman Catholic Church and the churches of the Reformation.
      • 1850, John Mason Neale, A History of the Holy Eastern Church, Part I, London: Joseph Masters, Aldersgate Street, and 78, New Bond Street, pages 8–9:
        I shall constantly reckon among the Saints those whom the Eastern Church, whether with or without the consent of the West, so accounts.
    6. A town in Holmes County, Mississippi, United States.
    7. A city in McLennan County, Texas, United States.
    8. An unincorporated community in Wetzel County, West Virginia, United States.
    9. A number of townships in the United States, in Illinois (2), Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania, listed under West Township.
  2. One of four positions at 90-degree intervals that lies to the west or on the left of a diagram.
  3. (countable) A person (as a bridge player) occupying this position during a specified activity.
  4. (countable) A surname from Middle English for a newcomer from the west, or someone who lived to the west of a village.
    • 2022 February 11, Peony Hirwani, “Kanye West tells fan who suggested he’s off medication to ‘be more conscious’”, in The Independent[4]:
      Kanye West took to social media to speak about mental health after a fan claimed that the rapper was “off his meds”.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

References

Anagrams

German

Etymology

From Middle High German and Old High German west, from Proto-West Germanic *westr. Compare Dutch west, English west, West Frisian west, Danish vest.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈvɛst/
  • Rhymes: -ɛst
  • Audio:(file)
  • Audio (Germany (Berlin)):(file)

Noun

West m (strong, genitive Wests or West, no plural)

  1. the west (used without article; a short form of Westen)
    der Wind kommt aus Westthe wind is coming from the west
  2. a wind coming from the west (used with article)

Declension

Coordinate terms

compass points (short-form):  [edit]

Nordwest Nord Nordost
West Ost
Südwest Süd Südost

Derived terms

Descendants

  • Kashubian: west