northerly
/ˈnɔːðəli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈnɔːrðərli/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈnȯr-t͟hər-lē/ (ame, mw) · /ˈnɔː.ðəl.i/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈnɔːr.ðɚ.li/ (ame, ipa)
northerly — adjective
- northerlypositive
- more northerlycomparative
- most northerlysuperlative
1. facing, going, or located on the side that lies in the direction of north
facing, going, or located on the side that lies in the direction of north
The kitchen window faces a northerly direction and stays cool all summer.
attributive: northerly + direction / position noun
Sophia steered the boat on a northerly course toward the harbour lights.
collocation: northerly course / route
From the cliff path, Owen spotted three fishing boats heading in a northerly direction.
The northerly slope of the mountain holds snow well into May.
- northward
near-synonym for direction sense; 'northward' more often appears as an adverb
- northbound
more specific — used of vehicles and traffic moving toward the north
- southerly
the mirror term for the south side or direction
文法句型
northerly + noun (direction, course, route)
用法筆記
Almost always attributive (before a noun) and limited to direction or location words: course, route, direction, slope, aspect, latitude. You would not say 'the road is northerly' on its own.
常見錯誤
2. describing a wind, breeze, or current of air whose source lies in the north and
describing a wind, breeze, or current of air whose source lies in the north and which blows toward the south
A sharp northerly wind pushed dark clouds across the bay yesterday afternoon.
core collocation: northerly + wind
By dawn, the northerly breeze had cooled the rooftop garden to ten degrees.
collocation: northerly + breeze (lighter wind)
Sailors near the cape were warned about strong northerly gusts overnight.
The pilot reported a steady northerly airflow at six thousand feet.
- southerly
of a wind blowing from the south
文法句型
northerly + wind / breeze / gale / airflow
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 by checking the noun that follows: if it names air movement (wind, breeze, gale, gust, airflow), this is sense 2; if it names a location or path (direction, course, slope), it is sense 1. Note the convention: a 'northerly' wind blows FROM the north, not TO it.
常見錯誤
northerly — noun
- northerlysingular
- northerliesplural
1. a wind blowing toward the south after starting somewhere in the north, often dis
a wind blowing toward the south after starting somewhere in the north, often discussed in weather reports as a single named gust or storm
Fishing crews on the coast cancelled their trips when a strong northerly hit at dawn.
countable noun: 'a northerly' as the wind itself
Mayumi listened to the radio forecast warning of a chilly northerly through the weekend.
weather-forecast register
The grain ships waited in port until the worst of the northerly had passed.
Farmers in the valley dread a winter northerly because it freezes the young wheat overnight.
- north wind
two-word equivalent; more common in everyday speech than the standalone noun
- norther
American regional term, especially in Texas, for a sudden cold north wind
- southerly
the matching noun for a wind from the south
文法句型
a/the + adjective + northerly
用法筆記
Subject of weather reports and sailors' speech rather than everyday conversation. Often appears with an evaluating adjective (strong, sharp, chilly, dry, biting) and almost always with the article 'a' or 'the'. Distinguish from adjective sense 2 by the slot: 'a northerly' on its own = the wind (noun); 'a northerly wind' = adjective + wind.