“west” – English explanatory dictionary

noun the direction of where the sun sets ○ The sun sets in the west and rises in the east. ○ We live in a village to the west of the town. ○ Their house has a garden that faces west or a west-facing garden. ■ adj in or to the west ○ She lives on the west coast of the United States. ○ The west part of the town is near the river. ■ adv towards the west ○ Go west for about ten kilometres, and then you’ll come to the national park. ○ The river flows west into the ocean.

n. [AS. west, adv.; akin to D. west, G. west, westen, OHG. westan, Icel. vestr, Sw. vest, vester, vestan, Dan. vest, vesten, and perhaps to L. vesper evening, Gr… Cf. Vesper, Visigoth.]
1. The point in the heavens where the sun is seen to set at the equinox; or, the corresponding point on the earth; that one of the four cardinal points of the compass which is in a direction at right angles to that of north and south, and on the left hand of a person facing north; the point directly opposite to east. “And fresh from the west is the free wind’s breath.” Bryant.
2. A country, or region of country, which, with regard to some other country or region, is situated in the direction toward the west.
3. Specifically: (a) The Westen hemisphere, or the New World so called, it having been discovered by sailing westward from Europe; the Occident. (b) (U. S. Hist. & Geog.) Formerly, that part of the United States west of the Alleghany mountains; now, commonly, the whole region west of the Mississippi river; esp., that part which is north of the Indian Territory, New Mexico, etc. Usually with the definite article. West by north, West by south, according to the notation of the mariner’s compass, that point which lies 11¼° to the north or south, respectively, of the point due west. — West northwest, West southwest, that point which lies 22½° to the north or south of west, or halfway between west and northwest or southwest, respectively. See Illust. of Compass.

a. Lying toward the west; situated at the west, or in a western direction from the point of observation or reckoning; proceeding toward the west, or coming from the west; as a west course is one toward the west; an east and west line; a west wind blows from the west. “This shall be your west border.” Num. xxxiv. 6. West end, the fashionable part of London, commencing from the east, at Charing Cross.

adv. [AS. west.] Westward.

v. i. 1. To pass to the west; to set, as the sun. [Obs.] ´The hot sun gan to west.´ Chaucer.
2. To turn or move toward the west; to veer from the north or south toward the west.