orient
noun /ˈɔːrɪənt 
/ /ˈɒrɪənt/
/ /ˈɒrɪənt/1 (the Orient) literary The countries of the East, especially East Asia: the treasures of the Orient
2 [mass noun] The special lustre of a pearl of the finest quality (with reference to fine pearls from the East).The great value of this necklace was due not only to the size, the perfect shape and orient of the separate pearls, but to the fact that the whole set was perfectly matched....
- Then from the inner room came the servants again, carrying two crowns like great hieratic tiaras, barbaric diadems, composed of pearls of the finest orient.
2.1 [count noun] A pearl of the finest quality.Henry II had a hawk-glove sewn with twelve rubies and fifty-two great orients.
adjective /ˈɔːrɪənt / /ˈɒrɪənt/
/ /ˈɒrɪənt/1 literary Situated in or belonging to the east; oriental: orient kings...
- They were highly suspicious looking with lots of orient carpets and artwork but not really anything else.
- The main and the biggest city, the capital of Japan - Tokyo - can be the starting point to this orient country.
2(Especially of precious stones) lustrous.These pearls are orient, but they yield in whiteness to your teeth.
verb /ˈɔːrɪɛnt / /ˈɒrɪɛnt/ [with object and adverbial]
/ /ˈɒrɪɛnt/ [with object and adverbial]1Align or position (something) relative to the points of a compass or other specified positions: the fires are oriented in direct line with the midsummer sunset...
- She taught us how to use a compass to find true north and to orient a map accordingly.
- Then orient your waterfall so you can see it from a patio or a favorite room.
- For older children, show them how to orient the map and locate your position.
Synonyms
align, place, position, put, dispose, situate, set
1.1 (orient oneself) Find one’s position in relation to unfamiliar surroundings: there were no street names to enable her to orient herself...
- You can orient yourself by facing the mountains, your back to Kingston Harbour.
- It's disconcerting, coming from a city where you orient yourself by the river.
- But the sun was shining and all felt well with the world, so I tucked in, whilst orienting myself with the city in my guide.
Synonyms
get/find one's bearings, get the lie of the land, establish one's location, feel one's way
1.2Guide (someone) in a specified direction: we were oriented towards the building...
- A perioperative nurse orients the patient to the unit.
- The Bible gives us guides whose stories orient us to a path they traveled long ago.
- He also orients new employees on company values over pizza lunches and flew to Iraq to spend Christmas with his in-country expatriates.
2Tailor or adapt (something) to specified circumstances: magazines oriented to the business community (as adjective, in combination -oriented) market-oriented economic reforms...
- Perhaps it would have been a decision that was less business-oriented but a more popular decision.
- It seems your magazine is no longer content-oriented, it is now stuff-oriented.
- For example, we are tailoring advanced individual training to make it assignment-oriented.
Synonyms
aim, direct, slant, angle, pitch, steer, design, intend
Origin
Late Middle English: via Old French from Latin orient- 'rising or east', from oriri 'to rise'.