orientto place so as to face the east; to become familiar with a situationNot to be confused with:Orient ? the countries of Asia (The Orient)Orientthe countries of Asia (The Orient)Not to be confused with:orient ? to place so as to face the east; to become familiar with a situationAbused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embreeo·ri·ent (ôr??-?nt, -?nt?)n.1. Orient The countries of Asia, especially of eastern Asia.2. a. The luster characteristic of a pearl of high quality.b. A pearl having exceptional luster.3. Archaic The place on the horizon where the sun rises; the east.adj.1. Having exceptional luster: orient gemstones.2. Archaic Eastern; oriental.tr.v. (ôr??-?nt?) or·i·ent·ed, or·i·ent·ing, or·i·ents 1. 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.2. 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.3. To make familiar with a new situation: events to help students get oriented to life on campus.4. To provide with a primary purpose or focus of attention: a medical system that is oriented toward the prevention of disease.[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin ori?ns, orient-, rising sun, east, from present participle of or?r?, to arise, be born; see er- in Indo-European roots.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.orient n 1. (Physical Geography) poetic another word for east Compare occident 2. archaic the eastern sky or the dawn 3. a. the iridescent lustre of a pearl b. (as modifier): orient pearls. 4. (Jewellery) a pearl of high quality adj 5. chiefly poetic eastern 6. archaic (of the sun, stars, etc) rising vb 7. to adjust or align (oneself or something else) according to surroundings or circumstances 8. (Physical Geography) (tr) to position, align, or set (a map, surveying instrument, etc) with reference to the points of the compass or other specific directions 9. (tr) to set or build (a church) in an easterly direction [C18: via French from Latin ori?ns rising (sun), from or?r? to rise]Orient (???r??nt) n1. (Placename) the countries east of the Mediterranean2. (Placename) the eastern hemisphereCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014o?ri?ent (n., adj. ??r i ?nt, -i??nt, ?o?r-; v. ??r i??nt, ?o?r-) adj. n. 1. the Orient, a. the countries of Asia, esp. East Asia. b. (formerly) the countries to the E of the Mediterranean. 2. a. an orient pearl. b. the iridescent luster of a pearl or of mother-of-pearl. 3. the east; the eastern region of the heavens or the world. v.t. 4. to adjust or bring into due relation to surroundings, circumstances, facts, etc. 5. to familiarize with new surroundings or circumstances: lectures to orient visitors. 6. to place in a position with reference to the points of the compass or other locations: to orient a building north and south. 7. to direct or position toward a particular object. 8. to determine the position of in relation to the points of the compass; get the bearings of. 9. to place so as to face the east, esp. to build (a church) with the chief altar to the east and the chief entrance to the west. 10. to set (the horizontal circle of a surveying instrument) so that readings give correct azimuths. adj. 11. (of a gem or pearl) exceptionally fine and lustrous. 12. Archaic. rising: the orient sun. [1350?1400; Middle English