Word: orient Part of Speech: verb Etymology: The verb is derived from French orienter (“to orientate; to guide; to set to north”) from French orient (noun) (see above) + -er (suffix forming infinitives of first-conjugation verbs). Pronunciation: /ˈɔː.ɹɪˌɛnt/, /ˈɒɹ.ɪˌɛnt/, /ˈɔɹ.iˌɛnt/ 1. To build or place (something) so as to face eastward. Labels: US, often, transitive Example: 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 interment, also of Romans or Romanised Britons, resembled the first in being more or less perfectly oriented, the orientation varying, probably according as it had taken place in summer or in winter, from E.N.E. to E.S.E. over about 45°; [...] 2. 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. Labels: US, broadly, often, transitive Example: 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. Example: He orients his photo-scale protractor over the intersection of the base line and compass line extended, by means of the bearing of base line AB (S. 32° W.) and reads bearing of compass line RP to 7 (N. 80° W.). 3. To direct towards or point at a particular direction. Labels: US, often, transitive Example: The workers oriented all the signs to face the road. Example: The present methods of manufacture of fiber boards tend to orient the fibers so that they are most effective for insulation. 4. To determine which direction one is facing. Labels: US, often, reflexive, transitive Example: Let me just orient myself and we can be on our way. Example: All around your spirit, the universe lies open and free, and you can go where you will. Orient yourself! Orient yourself! [...] [S]tudy and obey the sublime laws on which the frame of nature was constructed; study and obey the sublimer laws on which the soul of man was formed; and the fulness of the power and the wisdom and the blessedness, with which God has filled and lighted up this resplendent universe, shall all be yours! 5. To familiarize (oneself or someone) with a circumstance or situation. Labels: US, figuratively, often, reflexive, transitive Example: Give him time to orient himself within the new hierarchy. Example: Thus the thought-world is a symbol, or system of symbols, which serves the organic beings of the real world for orienting themselves in the world of actual being, and is the means whereby they translate the proceedings of this world into the language of the soul. 6. To set the focus of (something) so as to appeal or relate to a certain group. Labels: US, figuratively, often, transitive Example: We will orient our campaign to the youth who are often disinterested. Example: Whatever the occasion of the public religious observance, whether it was the holding of a temple fair, praying for rain, or celebrating a popular festival, religion came to serve as a symbol of common devotion in bringing people out of their divergent routines and orienting them toward community activities. 7. To change direction to face a certain way. Labels: US, intransitive, often Example: Observation stations were established at vantage points along the coast to monitor gray whale responses to the sounds generated by the air gun array. [...] At 3 miles some whales appeared to orient toward the sound.