/ ˈɔːrient; NAmE / ( BrE also orien·tate ) verb [ vn ]
1.
[ usually passive ] orient sb/sth (to / towards sb/sth) to direct sb/sth towards sth; to make or adapt sb/sth for a particular purpose :
Our students are oriented towards science subjects.
We run a commercially oriented operation.
profit-orientated organizations
Neither of them is politically oriented (= interested in politics) .
policies oriented to the needs of working mothers
2.
orient yourself to find your position in relation to your surroundings :
The mountaineers found it hard to orient themselves in the fog.
3.
orient yourself to make yourself familiar with a new situation :
It took him some time to orient himself in his new school.
—compare disorientate
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : via Old French from Latin orient- rising or east, from oriri to rise.