[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

northwest \north`west"\, a.
   1. pertaining to, or in the direction of, the point between
      the north and west; being in the northwest; toward the
      northwest, or coming from the northwest; as, the northwest
      coast.
      1913 webster

   2. coming from the northwest; as, a northwest wind.
      1913 webster

   northwest passage, a passage or communication by sea
      between the atlantic and pacific oceans along the north
      coast of america, long sought for by navigators.
      1913 webster
see also:
northwest passage 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

passage \pas"sage\, n. f. passage. see pass, v. i.
   1. the act of passing; transit from one place to another;
      movement from point to point; a going by, over, across, or
      through; as, the passage of a man or a carriage; the
      passage of a ship or a bird; the passage of light; the
      passage of fluids through the pores or channels of the
      body.
      1913 webster

            what are my doors opposed against my passage
                                                  --shak.
      1913 webster

   2. transit by means of conveyance; journey, as by water,
      carriage, car, or the like; travel; right, liberty, or
      means, of passing; conveyance.
      1913 webster

            the ship in which he had taken passage. --macaulay.
      1913 webster

   3. price paid for the liberty to pass; fare; as, to pay one's
      passage.
      1913 webster

   4. removal from life; decease; departure; death. r. "endure
      thy mortal passage." --milton.
      1913 webster

            when he is fit and season'd for his passage. --shak.
      1913 webster

   5. way; road; path; channel or course through or by which one
      passes; way of exit or entrance; way of access or transit.
      hence, a common avenue to various apartments in a
      building; a hall; a corridor.
      1913 webster

            and with his pointed dart
            explores the nearest passage to his heart. --dryden.
      1913 webster

            the persian army had advanced into the . . .
            passages of cilicia.                  --south.
      1913 webster

   6. a continuous course, process, or progress; a connected or
      continuous series; as, the passage of time.
      1913 webster

            the conduct and passage of affairs.   --sir j.
                                                  davies.
      1913 webster

            the passage and whole carriage of this action.
                                                  --shak.
      1913 webster

   7. a separate part of a course, process, or series; an
      occurrence; an incident; an act or deed. "in thy passages
      of life." --shak.
      1913 webster

            the . . . almost incredible passage of their
            unbelief.                             --south.
      1913 webster

   8. a particular portion constituting a part of something
      continuous; esp., a portion of a book, speech, or musical
      composition; a paragraph; a clause.
      1913 webster

            how commentators each dark passage shun. --young.
      1913 webster

   9. reception; currency. obs. --sir k. digby.
      1913 webster

   10. a pass or en encounter; as, a passage at arms.
       1913 webster

             no passages of love
             betwixt us twain henceforward evermore. --tennyson.
       1913 webster

   11. a movement or an evacuation of the bowels.
       1913 webster

   12. in parliamentary proceedings:
       a the course of a proposition bill, resolution, etc.
           through the several stages of consideration and
           action; as, during its passage through congress the
           bill was amended in both houses.
       b the advancement of a bill or other proposition from
           one stage to another by an affirmative vote; esp.,
           the final affirmative action of the body upon a
           proposition; hence, adoption; enactment; as, the
           passage of the bill to its third reading was delayed.
           "the passage of the stamp act." --d. hosack.
           1913 webster

                 the final question was then put upon its
                 passage.                         --cushing.
           1913 webster

   in passage, in passing; cursorily. "these . . . have been
      studied but in passage." --bacon.

   middle passage, northeast passage, northwest passage.
      see under middle, northeast, etc.

   of passage, passing from one place, region, or climate, to
      another; migratory; -- said especially of birds. "birds of
      passage." --longfellow.

   passage hawk, a hawk taken on its passage or migration.

   passage money, money paid for conveyance of a passenger, --
      usually for carrying passengers by water.
      1913 webster

   syn: vestibule; hall; corridor. see vestibule.
        1913 webster
see also:
pass in passage middle passage northeast passage northwest passage middle 
northeast of passage passage hawk passage money vestibule 

[3] : WordNet (r) 2.0

northwest passage
     n : a water route between the atlantic and the pacific oceans
         along the northern coast of north america; europeans
         since the 16th century had searched for a short route to
         the far east before it was successfully traversed by
         roald amundsen 1903-1906

Passage >> P Words
Passage, definition of term: Passage
passage_pag1.html

Northwest >> N Words
Northwest, definition of term: Northwest
northwest_pag1.html

Northwest Passa >> N Words
Northwest Passa, definition of term: Northwest Passa
northwest+passa_pag1.html

Middle Passage >> M Words
Middle Passage, definition of term: Middle Passage
middle+passage_pag1.html

Bird Of Passage >> B Words
Bird Of Passage, definition of term: Bird Of Passage
bird+of+passage_pag1.html