orient
VERB:
(tr):
1. to adjust with relation to, or bring into due relation to surroundings, circumstances, facts, etc.
2. to familiarize (a person) with new surroundings or circumstances, or the like:
lectures designed to orient the new students.
3. to direct or position toward a particular object:
Orient it toward that house.
4. to direct (something, such as a book or film) toward the interests of a particular group.
5. to set right by adjusting to facts or principles.
6. to acquaint with the existing situation or environment.
7. to ascertain the bearings of.
Also especially British, orientate.
of a compass:
1. to place in any definite position with reference to the points of the compass or other locations:
to orient a building north and south.
2. to determine the position of in relation to the points of the compass; get the bearings of.
3. to position, align, or set (a map, surveying instrument, etc) with reference to the points of the compass or other specific directions.
4. to set or arrange in any determinate position especially in relation to the points of the compass.
of a church:
1. to place so as to face the east, especially to build (a church) with the chief altar to the east and the chief entrance to the west.
2. to set or build (a church) in an easterly direction.
3. to cause to face or point toward the east, specifically to build (a church or temple) with the longitudinal axis pointing eastward and the chief altar at the eastern end.
in surveying:
to set (the horizontal circle of a surveying instrument) so that readings give correct azimuths.
in mathematics:
to assign to (a surface) a constant, outward direction at each point.
of molecules:
to cause the axes of the molecules of (a fiber or material) to assume the same direction.
(intr):
1. to turn toward the east or in any specified direction.
Also especially British, orientate.
(tr or intr):
1. to adjust or align (oneself or something else) according to surroundings or circumstances.
2. to locate or place in a particular relation to the points of the compass.
3. to align or position with respect to a point or system of reference.
4. to make familiar with or adjusted to facts, principles, or a situation.
Examples:
The program is intended to orient students toward a career in medicine; Orient the map so that north is at the top. —Merriam-Webster.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin orient- (stem of oriēns ) “the east, sunrise,” noun use of present participle of orīrī “to rise”; see -ent. Dictionary 2: C18: via French from Latin oriēns rising (sun), from orīrī to rise. —Dictionary.com. //
First Known Use of orient: Verb: 1728. Noun: 14th century. Adjective: 15th century. History and Etymology for orient: Verb: French orienter, from Middle French, from orient. Noun and Adjective: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin orient-, oriens, from present participle of oriri to rise; akin to Sanskrit ṛṇoti he moves, arises, Greek ornynai to rouse, oros mountain. —Merriam-Webster.
Sources: 1, 2.
(tr):
1. to adjust with relation to, or bring into due relation to surroundings, circumstances, facts, etc.
2. to familiarize (a person) with new surroundings or circumstances, or the like:
lectures designed to orient the new students.
3. to direct or position toward a particular object:
Orient it toward that house.
4. to direct (something, such as a book or film) toward the interests of a particular group.
5. to set right by adjusting to facts or principles.
6. to acquaint with the existing situation or environment.
7. to ascertain the bearings of.
Also especially British, orientate.
of a compass:
1. to place in any definite position with reference to the points of the compass or other locations:
to orient a building north and south.
2. to determine the position of in relation to the points of the compass; get the bearings of.
3. to position, align, or set (a map, surveying instrument, etc) with reference to the points of the compass or other specific directions.
4. to set or arrange in any determinate position especially in relation to the points of the compass.
of a church:
1. to place so as to face the east, especially to build (a church) with the chief altar to the east and the chief entrance to the west.
2. to set or build (a church) in an easterly direction.
3. to cause to face or point toward the east, specifically to build (a church or temple) with the longitudinal axis pointing eastward and the chief altar at the eastern end.
in surveying:
to set (the horizontal circle of a surveying instrument) so that readings give correct azimuths.
in mathematics:
to assign to (a surface) a constant, outward direction at each point.
of molecules:
to cause the axes of the molecules of (a fiber or material) to assume the same direction.
(intr):
1. to turn toward the east or in any specified direction.
Also especially British, orientate.
(tr or intr):
1. to adjust or align (oneself or something else) according to surroundings or circumstances.
2. to locate or place in a particular relation to the points of the compass.
3. to align or position with respect to a point or system of reference.
4. to make familiar with or adjusted to facts, principles, or a situation.
Examples:
The program is intended to orient students toward a career in medicine; Orient the map so that north is at the top. —Merriam-Webster.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin orient- (stem of oriēns ) “the east, sunrise,” noun use of present participle of orīrī “to rise”; see -ent. Dictionary 2: C18: via French from Latin oriēns rising (sun), from orīrī to rise. —Dictionary.com. //
First Known Use of orient: Verb: 1728. Noun: 14th century. Adjective: 15th century. History and Etymology for orient: Verb: French orienter, from Middle French, from orient. Noun and Adjective: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin orient-, oriens, from present participle of oriri to rise; akin to Sanskrit ṛṇoti he moves, arises, Greek ornynai to rouse, oros mountain. —Merriam-Webster.
Sources: 1, 2.