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oriental

[ awr-ee-en-tl, ohr‐ ]
/ ˌɔr iˈɛn tl, ˌoʊr‐ /
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adjective
(usually initial capital letter) of, relating to, or characteristic of the Orient, or East; Eastern.
of the orient, or the eastern region of the world or heavens: oriental countries;stars in the oriental sky.
(initial capital letter)Zoogeography. belonging to a geographical division comprising southern Asia and the Malay Archipelago as far as and including the Philippines, Borneo, and Java.
Jewelry.
  1. (usually initial capital letter) designating various gems that are varieties of corundum: Oriental aquamarine; Oriental ruby.
  2. fine or precious; orient: oriental agate; oriental garnet.
  3. designating certain natural saltwater pearls found especially in Asia.
noun
(usually initial capital letter)Older Use: Usually Disparaging and Offensive. a native or inhabitant of the Orient, or East.
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Origin of oriental

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin orientālis, equivalent to orient- “east, the east” + -ālis adjective suffix; see orient, -al1

usage note for oriental

See Asian.

OTHER WORDS FROM oriental

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH oriental

Asian, Asiatic, Oriental

Words nearby oriental

oribi, orichalcum, oriel, oriel window, orient, oriental, Oriental alabaster, Oriental almandine, oriental beetle, Oriental carpet, Oriental cat's eye
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

Words related to oriental

eastern, east

How to use oriental in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for oriental (1 of 2)

oriental
/ (ˌɔːrɪˈɛntəl) /
adjective
another word for eastern Compare occidental

British Dictionary definitions for oriental (2 of 2)

Oriental
/ (ˌɔːrɪˈɛntəl) /
adjective
(sometimes not capital) of or relating to the Orient
of or denoting a zoogeographical region consisting of southeastern Asia from India to Borneo, Java, and the Philippines
noun
a breed of slender muscular cat with large ears, long legs, and a long tail
(sometimes not capital) an inhabitant, esp a native, of the Orient
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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