orients

Verb

orient (third-person singular simple present orients, present participle orienting, simple past and past participle oriented)

1. (US, often, transitive) To build or place (something) so as to face eastward.
   • The first kind of interment was that of leaden coffins, rectangular in shape, covered with a lid, occupying deeper graves than any of the other interments, more or less accurately oriented, sometimes containing coins, as of the Emperor Gratian (ob. 383), and sometimes not. [...] The second type of...1868 August 25, George Rolleston, “On the Modes of Sepulture Observable in Late Romano-British and Early Anglo-Saxon Times in This Country”, in International Congress of Prehistoric Archæology...
2. (US, broadly, often, transitive) To align or place (a person or object) so that his, her, or its east side, north side, etc., is positioned toward the corresponding points of the compass; (specifically, surveying) to rotate (a map attached to a plane table) until the line of direction between any two of its points is parallel to the corresponding direction in nature.
   • Without a compass the table is oriented, when set at one end of a line previously determined, by sighting back on this line, [...]. To orient the table, when at a station unconnected with others, is more difficult.1855, W. M. Gillespie, “Part VIII. Plane Table Surveying.”, in A Treatise on Land-surveying: […], New York, N.Y.; London: D. Appleton & Co., […], →OCLC, paragraph 456 (To Orient the Table), page 309

   Synonyms:

   orientate

3. (US, often, transitive) To direct towards or point at a particular direction.
   • The workers oriented all the signs to face the road.

   Synonyms:

   orientate

4. (US, often, reflexive, transitive) To determine which direction one is facing.
   • Let me just orient myself and we can be on our way.
5. (US, figuratively, often, reflexive, transitive) To familiarize (oneself or someone) with a circumstance or situation.
   • Give him time to orient himself within the new hierarchy.

   Synonyms:

   orientate

   Antonyms:

   disorient, disorientate

6. (US, figuratively, often, transitive) To set the focus of (something) so as to appeal or relate to a certain group.
   • We will orient our campaign to the youth who are often disinterested.

See all 29 meanings of orient