- The orient is the luster of a pearl.
An example of orient is an expensive string of pearls with very shiny pearls.
- Orient is defined as to align or position something towards a particular point or reference.
Facing toward the East is an example of how to orient a person for prayer.
- Old Poet. the east
- the quality that determines a pearl's value; luster
- a pearl of high quality
Origin of orientOld French ; from Classical Latin oriens: see the adjective
- brilliant; shining; precious: said originally of pearls, now used more generally
- Old Poet.
- eastern; oriental
- rising, as the sun
Origin of orientL oriens, direction of the rising sun, prp. of oriri, to arise < IE base *er-, to set in motion, elevate > rise, run, Gr oros, mountain
- to arrange with reference to the east; esp., to build (a church) with the chief altar at the eastern end
- to set (a map or chart) in agreement with the points of the compass
- to adjust with relation to facts or principles; correct
- to ascertain for (someone), or make (someone) aware of, his or her location or situation: usually used reflexively: the lost hikers attempted to orient themselves
- to adjust or adapt to a particular situation, market, etc.: often in the pp. and often in comb.: a youth-oriented magazine
Origin of orientFr orienter < the adj.
- Old-fashioned the East, including the Near East and the Far East
- the Far East
- Orient The countries of Asia, especially of eastern Asia.
- a. The luster characteristic of a pearl of high quality.b. A pearl having exceptional luster.
- Archaic The place on the horizon where the sun rises; the east.
- Having exceptional luster: orient gemstones.
- Archaic Eastern; oriental.
transitive verbor·i·ent·ed, or·i·ent·ing, or·i·ents
- a. To align or position in a particular direction or in a particular relation to the points of the compass: orient the swimming pool north and south; oriented the telescope toward the moon.b. To build (a church) with the nave laid out in an east-west direction and the main altar usually at the eastern end.
- To determine the bearings of (oneself); cause (one) to know one's position in relation to the surroundings: oriented himself by the neon sign on top of the building.
- To make familiar with a new situation: events to help students get oriented to life on campus.
- To provide with a primary purpose or focus of attention: a medical system that is oriented toward the prevention of disease.
Origin of orientMiddle English, from Old French, from Latin ori&emacron;ns, orient-, rising sun, east, from present participle of or&imacron;r&imacron;, to arise, be born; see er-1 in Indo-European roots.
(third-person singular simple present orients, present participle orienting, simple past and past participle oriented)
- To familiarize with a situation or circumstance.
- Give him time to orient himself within the new hierarchy.
- To set the focus of so as to relate or appeal to a certain group.
- We will orient our campaign to the youth who are often disinterested.
- To point at or direct towards.
- I will orient all of the signs to face the road.
- To determine which direction one is facing.
- Let me just orient myself and we can be on our way.
- To place or build so as to face eastward.
- (intransitive) To change direction so as to face east.
- (by extension) To change direction to face a certain way.
- Bright; lustrous; superior; pure; perfect; pellucid; used of gems and also figuratively, because the most perfect jewels are found in the East.
From Middle English orient, from Old French orient, from Latin oriens (“rising; as a noun, the quarter where the sun rises, the east, day"), present participle of oriri (“to rise").
- A pear cultivar from the United States
Latin oriÄ“ns (“east").