ORIENTAL


Meaning of ORIENTAL in English

— orientally , adv.

/awr'ee en"tl, ohr'-/ , adj.

1. ( usu. cap. ) of, pertaining to, or characteristic of the Orient, or East; Eastern.

2. of the orient or east; eastern.

3. ( cap. ) Zoogeog. belonging to a geographical division comprising southern Asia and the Malay Archipelago as far as and including the Philippines, Borneo, and Java.

4. Jewelry.

a. ( usu. cap. ) designating various gems that are varieties of corundum: Oriental aquamarine; Oriental ruby.

b. fine or precious; orient: oriental agate; oriental garnet.

c. designating certain natural saltwater pearls found esp. in the Orient.

n.

5. ( usually cap. ) a native or inhabitant of the Orient.

[ 1350-1400; ME orientalis = orient- the east (see ORIENT) + -alis -AL 1 ]

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .