south

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)The direction towards the pole to the right-hand side of someone facing east, specifically 180°, or (on another celestial object) the direction towards the pole lying on the southern side of the invariable plane.

   “Germany is south of Denmark.”

2. (countable, uncountable)The southern region or area; the inhabitants thereof.

   “Just before independence (in 1955) the military garrison in the south rebelled and that was the beginning of a civil war between the north and the south ...”

   “What was said [prior to 2003] is that the south rebelled. Even then; rebelled? What rebelled? Who was supporting Saddam other than the people of the south?”

   “When Nimeiri ended that autonomy in 1983, the south took up arms. This Second Sudanese Civil War ended only after four years of formal talks […]”

3. (countable, uncountable)In a church: the direction to the right-hand side of a person facing the altar.

   “If candidates stand on the liturgical south facing the presider and liturgical assistants on the liturgical north, it will present better visual lines for the congregation than if they stand facing east and west with their backs toward the congregation.”

   “It is to be situated in the chancel on the right (i.e., liturgical south) side of the church.”

   “It was moved from its original location in 1507 hardly a decade after it was completed, to the bottom of the liturgical south aisle along with the free-standing chapel of the relic of the lance.”

   “The new St Mary's Anglican Church, Walkerville, has an attached rectory flanking to the liturgical south and an attached parish hall flanking to the liturgical north, both half-timbered in the Tudor Revival style. [Referring to a church that is oriented SSE, making "south" WSW]”

4. (countable, uncountable)The negative or south pole of a magnet

adj

1. (not-comparable)Toward the south; southward.
2. (not-comparable)from the south.
3. (not-comparable)Of or pertaining to the south; southern.
4. (not-comparable)Pertaining to the part of a corridor used by southbound traffic.

   “south highway 1”

5. (not-comparable)Designating, or situated in, the liturgical south.

   “Throughout the book I refer directionally to the altar and chancel of St. Andrew's as situated at ecclesiastical east (to avoid overcomplicating matters), not geographical or magnetic southeast. Thus, […] The north side faces the river (beyond the subdivision behind the church), and the south side, Ashley River Road.”

adv

1. Toward the south; southward.
2. Downward.
3. (figuratively)In an adverse direction or trend.

   “His fortunes have been going south ever since he was tricked into investing in that ostrich farm.”

4. Of wind, from the south.

verb

1. To turn or move toward the south; to veer toward the south.
2. To come to the meridian; to cross the north and south line.

   “The moon souths at nine.”

name

1. (US, countable, uncountable)Any of various particular regions named for the cardinal direction in which they lie.

   “Holonyms: United States, United States of America, U.S., US, USA < North America < Earth < Solar System < Orion Arm < Milky Way < Local Group < Virgo Supercluster < Laniakea < Universe”

   “Meronyms: Upper South, Deep South, Old South, Southeast”

   “Many sincere white people in the South privately oppose segregation and discrimination, but they are apprehensive lest they be publicly condemned.”

   “Just when the blacks had had their hopes for equality and justice raised, after centuries of misery and despair, they awoke one morning to discover that their future was in the hands of a President born in the South.”

   “Of course, living in the South was never an option—the main problem being they have too much respect for authority; they're soldier-sniffers and cop lovers. I don't respect that, and I could never live with it. There's also way too much religion in the South to be consistent with good mental health.”

2. (countable, uncountable)Any of various particular regions named for the cardinal direction in which they lie.

   “Holonyms: England < Great Britain, Britain < United Kingdom, UK < Earth, World < Solar System < Orion Arm < Milky Way < Local Group < Virgo Supercluster < Laniakea < Universe”

3. (India, countable, uncountable)Any of various particular regions named for the cardinal direction in which they lie.
4. (countable, uncountable)Any of various particular regions named for the cardinal direction in which they lie.
5. (UK, countable, uncountable)Any of various particular regions named for the cardinal direction in which they lie.

   “Over three weeks in 2019, Kaefer spent time at three English-speaking Antarctic stations observing and gathering data from workers based on what the US station refers to as “The Ice”, or the British call the “South”.”

6. (countable, uncountable)A surname.
7. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, informal, uncountable)Ellipsis of South College, Durham.