orient
/ˈɔː.ri.ənt/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈɔriˌɛnt] /ˈɔːr.i.ənt/ (ame, ipa) · [ˈɔriˌɛnt] /ˈȯr-ē-ˌent/ (ame, mw) · /ˈɔːrient/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈɔriˌɛnt] /ˈɔːrient/ (ame, ipa)
orient — noun
1. a name for the eastern and southeastern parts of Asia, especially in older writi
a name for the eastern and southeastern parts of Asia, especially in older writing
The museum map showed trade routes between Europe and the Orient.
historical phrase: trade routes to the Orient
In the old novel, the sailor dreamed of riches from the Orient.
A faded poster promised silk, tea, and spices from the Orient.
Professor Lin explained why many writers avoid calling Asia the Orient.
- East Asia
a precise modern term for the eastern part of Asia
- Southeast Asia
a more limited modern regional term
- Asia
much broader because it includes the whole continent
文法句型
the Orient
from the Orient
用法筆記
Mostly found in history, older travel writing, or fixed names. In modern neutral English, many writers prefer East Asia or Southeast Asia instead.
常見錯誤
orient — verb
- orientpresent simple I / you / we / they
- orientshe / she / it
- orientedpast simple
- orienting-ing form
1. to make something face a direction, or to shape it for a certain use or audience
to make something face a direction, or to shape it for a certain use or audience
The engineer oriented the solar panels toward the morning sun.
orient something toward a direction
This safety video is oriented toward new factory workers.
usually passive: oriented toward a group
The designer oriented the website toward older phone users.
Our training course is oriented to small business owners.
The guide oriented the tent door away from the sea wind.
- misdirect
suggests sending something the wrong way or toward the wrong goal
文法句型
orient something toward something
orient something to somebody
be oriented toward a group
用法筆記
Frequently passive when a course, product, book, or service is aimed at a particular group. With physical objects, it commonly takes to, toward, or away from plus a direction or feature.
常見錯誤
2. to work out where you are and which way you are facing
to work out where you are and which way you are facing
After leaving the station, Maya stopped to orient herself on the street.
orient yourself after arriving somewhere
Leo used the church tower to orient himself in the fog.
use a landmark to orient yourself
At the trail fork, Nina oriented herself with the river map.
The divers surfaced slowly and oriented themselves before swimming east.
A quick look at the stars helped Omar orient himself.
- get your bearings
a common phrase for finding your position in a place
- locate yourself
more formal and focused on exact position
- find your way
broader and common, often about moving successfully through a place
- get lost
an everyday opposite when you cannot tell where you are
- lose your bearings
a closer opposite focused on direction
文法句型
orient yourself
orient yourself with a map
orient yourself by a landmark
用法筆記
This sense is about your physical location or direction. Distinguish from sense 3, which is about getting used to a new school, job, or situation.
常見錯誤
3. to learn how a new place, system, or situation works so you can deal with it
to learn how a new place, system, or situation works so you can deal with it
New students met early to orient themselves to campus life.
orient yourself to a new setting
The handbook helps parents orient themselves after the school move.
help somebody orient themselves
During week one, Priya oriented herself to the new software.
The nurse oriented himself quickly to the night shift routine.
Before classes began, exchange students oriented themselves to local customs.
- adjust
broader and very common for changing to fit new conditions
- settle in
more informal and often about feeling comfortable over time
- familiarize yourself
more formal and focused on learning details
- get used to
everyday and often about habit rather than active learning
- remain confused
suggests you still do not understand the new situation
- feel lost
common when a new place or system still feels unfamiliar
文法句型
orient yourself to something
orient yourself to a new situation
help somebody orient themselves
用法筆記
Often followed by to plus a new school, job, system, or social situation. Distinguish from sense 2: here the focus is adjustment, not finding direction on a map or in a room.
常見錯誤
orient — adjective
- orientpositive
- more orientcomparative
- most orientsuperlative
1. bright and shining, as if giving off light
bright and shining, as if giving off light
Moonlight made the lake look orient and almost silver.
literary use for a shining appearance
By candlelight, the pearls seemed orient against the singer's dark dress.
literary use with a glowing surface
After the rain, the leaves looked orient under the porch lamp.
At dawn, the sea turned orient beneath the pink sky.
文法句型
orient light
orient surface
用法筆記
Rare and mostly literary. It is used in descriptive writing about light, water, cloth, jewels, or other surfaces that seem to glow.