westerly

[ wes-ter-lee ]
/ ˈwɛs tər li /

adjective

moving, directed, or situated toward the west: the westerly end of the field.
(especially of a wind) coming from the west: a westerly gale.

adverb

toward the west: to escape westerly.
from the west: a sharp wind blowing westerly.

noun, plural west·er·lies.

a wind that blows from the west: an occasional westerly that pommeled the island.
westerlies, (used with a plural verb) any semipermanent belt of westerly winds, especially those that prevail at latitudes lying between the tropical and polar regions of the earth.

Origin of westerly

1570–80; west + -erly, as in easterly

OTHER WORDS FROM westerly

west·er·li·ness, noun

Definition for westerly (2 of 2)

Westerly
[ wes-ter-lee ]
/ ˈwɛs tər li /

noun

a town in SW Rhode Island.

Example sentences from the Web for westerly

British Dictionary definitions for westerly

westerly
/ (ˈwɛstəlɪ) /

adjective

of, relating to, or situated in the west

adverb, adjective

towards or in the direction of the west
(esp of the wind) from the west

noun plural -lies

a wind blowing from the west

Derived forms of westerly

westerliness, noun

Scientific definitions for westerly

westerly
[ wĕstər-lē ]

A wind, especially a prevailing wind, that blows from the west. The prevailing winds in the middle latitudes are westerlies. See illustration at wind.

Cultural definitions for westerly

westerly

See prevailing westerlies.