Westname/wɛst/

• 1

  Any of various particular regions named for the cardinal direction in which they lie.

  • 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.
• 2

  historicalAny of various particular regions named for the cardinal direction in which they lie.

  • 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.
• 3

  Any of various particular regions named for the cardinal direction in which they lie.

  • I was about to say that I had known the Celebrity from the time he wore kilts. But I see I will have to amend that, because he was not a celebrity then, nor, indeed, did he achieve fame until some time after I left New York for the West.
• 4

  historicalAny of various particular regions named for the cardinal direction in which they lie.

• 5

  ChristianityAny of various particular regions named for the cardinal direction in which they lie.

  • I shall constantly reckon among the Saints those whom the Eastern Church, whether with or without the consent of the West, so accounts.
• 6

  Any of various particular regions named for the cardinal direction in which they lie.

• 7

  Any of various particular regions named for the cardinal direction in which they lie.

• 8

  Any of various particular regions named for the cardinal direction in which they lie.

westnoun/wɛst/

• 1

  The direction opposite to that of the earth's rotation, specifically 270°.

  • We used to live in the west of the country.
  • Portugal lies to the west of Spain.
• 2

  The western region or area; the inhabitants thereof.

• 3

  ecclesiasticallifestylereligionIn a church: the direction of the gallery, opposite to the altar, and opposite to the direction faced by the priest when celebrating ad orientem.

  • In two respects, however, the cathedral [of St. Mary's in Sydney, Australia] differs from English traditions: it is oriented north-south, not east-west; and its main entry is from the south (liturgical west) between the two towers, in the French manner.
  • The seating for honored persons (clergy) is at the liturgical west, opposite the entrance and lectern.

westadj/wɛst/

• 1

  Situated or lying in or toward the west; westward.

• 2

  climatologymeteorologynatural-sciencesOf wind: from the west.

• 3

  Of or pertaining to the west; western.

• 4

  From the West; occidental.

• 5

  Designating, or situated in, the liturgical west, that part of a church which is opposite to, and farthest from, the part containing the chancel.

  • Interior in 1925, (left) looking north to chancel and (right) looking south (to liturgical west end) It was on account of this connection that St James's became the clowns 'church', an annual clowns' service being held there ...
  • as in the mosaic of the ascension on San Frediano's liturgical west (geographically east) façade.

westadv/wɛst/

• 1

  Towards the west; westwards.

  • This thoroughfare bears (to the) West.

westverb/wɛst/

• 1

  To move to the west; (of the sun), to set.

  • Foure times his place he shifted hath in sight, / And twice has risen, where he now doth West, / And wested twice, where he ought rise aright.
  • The ships would leave Europe in April, when there was a good easterly wind. Trans-Atlantic mariners wanted the wind dead on the stern, so they could run with it, sticking to the same latitude—a method called easting and westing. Columbus, Cabot, and many others had done this. Until the eighteenth century, there was no reliable way to measure longitude, which helps explain why so many could make landfalls from the Bahamas to Newfoundland and believe they were near Asia. Latitude could be fixed by the relationship to the North Star or the sun, one of the few things known in the sixteenth century about celestial navigation. Westing ships out of Bristol reached the Labrador coast and dropped down to Newfoundland. Bretons went straight to the Grand Bank and St. John's. If a ship left the harbor at La Rochelle, dropping below the two islands that protect that harbor, and then stuck to its latitude, it would make landfall at Cape Breton, where the French station of Louisbourg was established so that La Rochelle ships could easily find it.