orientation
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the physical position or direction of an object compared to its surroundings.
the relative physical position or direction of an object or person in space.
Simple“The solar panels work best when they have a southern orientation.”
In context“The architect adjusted the building's orientation to maximize natural light during the winter months while providing shade in the summer.”
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a meeting or training session to help you start a new job or school.
a programme or process designed to introduce individuals to a new environment, such as a workplace or university.
Simple“All new students must attend the orientation on Monday morning.”
In context“The human resources department organized a three-day orientation to familiarize the new hires with the company's safety protocols and corporate culture.”
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
your basic goals, interests, or beliefs, such as your political or sexual orientation.
a person's basic attitude, belief system, or preference, often used in social or psychological contexts.
Simple“The company's new orientation is focused more on technology than sales.”
In context“Sociologists often study how a person's religious orientation influences their voting patterns in national elections.”
Synonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
the way a page is turned, either tall (portrait) or wide (landscape).
the direction in which a document is displayed or printed on a screen or paper.
Simple“You need to change the page orientation to landscape to fit the whole table.”
In context“The software automatically detects the device's orientation and adjusts the user interface from portrait to landscape mode.”
Usage particular orientation
“For example, adolescents were asked whether they had ever been the target of offenses related to skin color, religion, sexual orientation or physical appearance, either in person or online.”
“The researchers also found that the pattern of heat flow changed in predictable ways when the orientation of the crystal changed.”
From French orientation. By surface analysis, orient + -ation.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.