EAST


Meaning of EAST in English

I. ˈēst adverb

Etymology: Middle English est, from Old English ēast; akin to Old High German ōstar to the east, Latin aurora dawn, Greek ēōs, heōs

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

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.