orient

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to become familiar with a new situation, job, or place.

v. to familiarise oneself or others with a new environment, set of circumstances, or cultural context.

“The first week of university is designed to help new students orient themselves.”

“The induction programme is specifically structured to orient new executives to the company's complex internal hierarchy and reporting protocols.”

C1 · Advanced Academic

v. to design or aim something toward a specific group of people or a goal.

v. to direct or adjust something so that it appeals to or serves a particular interest or demographic.

“The new training course is oriented toward people who already have some coding experience.”

“The firm's recent marketing strategy is heavily oriented toward younger consumers who value sustainability over brand heritage.”

C1 · Advanced Technical

v. to place or build something so that it faces a certain direction, like the east.

v. to align or position an object, especially a building, in a specific direction relative to the points of a compass.

“The ancient temples were oriented toward the rising sun.”

“The architect decided to orient the building southward to maximise natural light and improve the efficiency of the solar panels.”

C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Literary · Archaic

n. a name for the countries of East Asia.

n. a term referring to the countries of the East, particularly East Asia; often capitalised as 'the Orient'.

“In old stories, the Orient was often described as a place of great mystery.”

“The explorer spent decades travelling through the Orient, documenting customs that were then unknown to Western scholars.”

C2 · Proficiency Literary · Archaic

adj. related to the east or the rising sun.

adj. situated in or belonging to the east; lustrous, like a high-quality pearl.

“The poet wrote about the orient sun rising over the hills.”

“The crown was adorned with orient pearls of such brilliance that they seemed to glow in the candlelight.”