Adjacent Words

East definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

EAST, n. [L. oriens, this word may belong to the root of hoise,hoist.]
1. The point in the heavens, where the sun is seen to rise at the equinox, or when it is in the equinoctial, or the corresponding point on the earth; one of the four cardinal points. The east and the west are the points where the equator intersects the horizon. But to persons under the equinoctial line, that line constitutes east and west.
2. The eastern parts of the earth; the regions or countries which lie east of Europe, or other country. In this indefinite sense, the word is applied to Asia Minor, Syria, Chaldea, Persia, India, China, etc. We speak of the riches of the east, the diamonds and pearls of the east, the kings of the east.
The gorgeous east, with richest hand,
Pours on her kings barbaric,pearl and gold.
EAST, a. Towards the rising sun; or towards the point where the sun rises, when in the equinoctial; as the east gate; the east border; the east side. The east wind is a wind that blows from the east.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: situated in or facing or moving toward the east [ant: west] n
1: the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees [syn: east, due east, eastward, E]
2: the countries of Asia [syn: East, Orient]
3: the region of the United States lying to the north of the Ohio River and to the east of the Mississippi River [syn: East, eastern United States]
4: the direction corresponding to the eastward cardinal compass point
5: a location in the eastern part of a country, region, or city adv
1: to, toward, or in the east; "we travelled east for several miles"; "located east of Rome"

Merriam Webster's

I. adverb Etymology: Middle English est, from Old English ?ast; akin to Old High German ?star to the east, Latin aurora dawn, Greek ??s, he?s Date: before 12th century to, toward, or in the east II. adjective Date: before 12th century 1. situated toward or at the east <an east window> 2. coming from the east <an east wind> III. noun Date: before 12th century 1. a. the general direction of sunrise ; the direction toward the right of one facing north b. the compass point directly opposite to west 2. capitalized a. regions lying to the east of a specified or implied point of orientation b. regions having a culture derived from ancient non-European especially Asian areas 3. the altar end of a church 4. often capitalized a. the one of four positions at 90-degree intervals that lies to the east or at the right of a diagram b. a person (as a bridge player) occupying this position in the course of a specified activity

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n., adj., & adv. --n. 1 a the point of the horizon where the sun rises at the equinoxes (cardinal point 90° to the right of north). b the compass point corresponding to this. c the direction in which this lies. 2 (usu. the East) a the regions or countries lying to the east of Europe. b the Communist States of eastern Europe. 3 the eastern part of a country, town, etc. 4 (East) Bridge a player occupying the position designated 'east'. --adj. 1 towards, at, near, or facing east. 2 coming from the east (east wind). --adv. 1 towards, at, or near the east. 2 (foll. by of) further east than. Phrases and idioms: East End the part of London east of the City as far as the River Lea. East Ender an inhabitant of the East End. East Indiaman hist. a large ship engaged in trade with the East Indies. East Indies the islands etc. east of India, esp. the Malay archipelago. east-north (or -south) -east the direction or compass point midway between east and north-east (or south-east). to the east (often foll. by of) in an easterly direction. Etymology: OE east- f. Gmc

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

East East, a. (Eccl.) Designating, or situated in, that part of a church which contains the choir or chancel; as, the east front of a cathedral.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

East East, a. Toward the rising sun; or toward the point where the sun rises when in the equinoctial; as, the east gate; the east border; the east side; the east wind is a wind that blows from the east.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

East East, n. [OE. est, east, AS. e['a]st; akin to D. oost, oosten, OHG. ?stan, G. ost, osten, Icel. austr, Sw. ost, Dan. ["o]st, ["o]sten, Lith. auszra dawn, L. aurora (for ausosa), Gr. ?, ?, ?, Skr. ushas; cf. Skr. ush to burn, L. urere. ????, ???. Cf. Aurora, Easter, Sterling.] 1. The point in the heavens where the sun is seen to rise at the equinox, or the corresponding point on the earth; that one of the four cardinal points of the compass which is in a direction at right angles to that of north and south, and which is toward the right hand of one who faces the north; the point directly opposite to the west. The east began kindle. --E. Everett. 2. The eastern parts of the earth; the regions or countries which lie east of Europe; the orient. In this indefinite sense, the word is applied to Asia Minor, Syria, Chaldea, Persia, India, China, etc.; as, the riches of the East; the diamonds and pearls of the East; the kings of the East. The gorgeous East, with richest hand, Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold. --Milton. 3. (U. S. Hist. and Geog.) Formerly, the part of the United States east of the Alleghany Mountains, esp. the Eastern, or New England, States; now, commonly, the whole region east of the Mississippi River, esp. that which is north of Maryland and the Ohio River; -- usually with the definite article; as, the commerce of the East is not independent of the agriculture of the West. East by north, East by south, according to the notation of the mariner's compass, that point which lies 111/4[deg] to the north or south, respectively, of the point due east. East-northeast, East-southeast, that which lies 221/2[deg] to the north or south of east, or half way between east and northeast or southeast, respectively. See Illust. of Compass.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

East East, adv. Eastward.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

East East, v. i. To move toward the east; to veer from the north or south toward the east; to orientate.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

also East Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. The east is the direction where the sun rises. ...the vast swamps which lie to the east of the River Nile... The principal range runs east to west. N-UNCOUNT: also the N 2. The east of a place, country, or region is the part which is in the east. ...a village in the east of the country... N-SING: usu the N, oft N of n 3. If you go east, you travel towards the east. To drive, go east on Route 9. ADV: ADV after v 4. Something that is east of a place is positioned to the east of it. ...just east of the center of town. ADV: usu ADV of n 5. The east edge, corner, or part of a place or country is the part which is towards the east. ...a low line of hills running along the east coast. ADJ: ADJ n 6. East is used in the names of some countries, states, and regions in the east of a larger area He had been on safari in East Africa with his son. ADJ: ADJ n 7. An east wind is a wind that blows from the east. ADJ 8. The East is used to refer to the southern and eastern part of Asia, including India, China, and Japan. Every so often, a new martial art arrives from the East. N-SING: the N 9. see also Middle East, Far East

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

see east

Easton's Bible Dictionary

(1.) The orient (mizrah); the rising of the sun. Thus "the east country" is the country lying to the east of Syria, the Elymais (Zech. 8:7).

(2). Properly what is in front of one, or a country that is before or in front of another; the rendering of the word _kedem_. In pointing out the quarters, a Hebrew always looked with his face toward the east. The word _kedem_ is used when the four quarters of the world are described (Gen. 13:14; 28:14); and _mizrah_ when the east only is distinguished from the west (Josh. 11:3; Ps. 50:1; 103:12, etc.). In Gen. 25:6 "eastward" is literally "unto the land of kedem;" i.e., the lands lying east of Palestine, namely, Arabia, Mesopotamia, etc.

Moby Thesaurus

Africa, America, Antipodes, Asia, Asia Major, Asia Minor, Australasia, Dixie, Dixieland, Down East, East Coast, Eastern Hemisphere, Eurasia, Europe, Far East, Levant, Middle Atlantic, Middle East, Middle West, Near East, New England, New World, North, North Central region, Northeast, Northwest, Occident, Oceania, Old World, Orient, Pacific Northwest, South, Southeast, Southwest, Sunbelt, West, West Coast, Western Hemisphere, Yankeeland, continent, down under, eastland, landmass, northland, the Coast, the old country, westland, wild West

Moby Thesaurus

E, antarctic, arctic, austral, boreal, cardinal points, compass card, compass rose, degrees, eastabout, eastbound, easterly, eastermost, eastern, easternmost, eastward, eastwardly, eastwards, half points, hyperborean, lubber line, meridional, north, northbound, northeast, northeasterly, northeastern, northerly, northern, northernmost, northward, northwest, northwesterly, northwestern, occident, occidental, orient, oriental, quarter points, rhumb, south, southbound, southeast, southeasterly, southeastern, southerly, southern, southernmost, southward, southwest, southwesterly, southwestern, sunrise, sunset, west, westbound, westerly, western, westernmost, westward