east

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. The cardinal point on the mariner's compass 90° clockwise from due north and directly opposite west.
2. n. The direction of the earth's axial rotation.
3. n. An area or region lying in the east.
4. n. The eastern part of the earth, especially eastern Asia.
5. n. The eastern part of a region or country.
6. n. The region of the United States east of the Allegheny Mountains and north of the Mason-Dixon Line.
7. n. The former Communist bloc of countries in Asia and especially in Eastern Europe.
8. adj. To, toward, of, facing, or in the east: the east bank of the river.
9. adj. Originating in or coming from the east: a cool east wind.
10. adv. In, from, or toward the east: a river flowing east.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. One of the four cardinal points of the compass, opposite to the west, and lying on the right hand when one faces the north; the point in the heavens where the sun is seen to rise at the equinox, or the corresponding point on the earth. Strictly, the term applies to the one point where the sun rises at the equinox; but originally and in general use it refers to the general direction. Specifically (ecclesiastical), the point of the compass toward which one is turned when facing the altar or high altar from the direction of the nave. As early as the second century it was the established custom for Christians to pray facing the east. From this resulted the custom of building churches with the altar and sanctuary at the east end and the main entrance at the west end, and of using the terms in this way even with respect to churches not so built.
2. n. The quarter or direction toward the mean point of sunrise; an eastward situation or trend; the eastern part or side: as, a town or country in the east of Europe, or on the east of a range of mountains; to travel to the east (that is, in an eastern direction).
3. n. A territory or region situated eastward of the person speaking, or of the people using the term. Specifically—a) [capitalized] The parts of Asia collectively (as lying east of Europe) where civilization has existed from early times, including Asia Minor, Syria, Arabia, India, China, etc.: as, the riches of the East; the spices and perfumes of the East; the kings of the East. Also called the Orient.
4. n. In the Bible, the countries southeast, east, and northeast of Palestine, as Moab, Ammon, Arabia Deserta, Armenia, Assyria, Babylon, Parthia. The countries designated by the term in particular passages must be discovered from the context.
5. n. [capitalized] In the United States, in a restricted sense, New England; in a more general sense, the whole eastern or Atlantic portion of the country, as distinguished from the West.
6. n. [capitalized] In church hist., the church in the Eastern Empire and countries adjacent, especially those on the east, as “the West” is the church in the Western Empire: as, the great schism between East and West.
7. n. The east wind.
8. Situated in the direction of the rising sun, or toward the point where the sun rises when in the equinoctial: as, the east side; an east window.
9. Coming from the direction of the east: only in the phrase the or an east wind.
10. Eccles., situated beyond or in the direction of the altar or high altar of a church as seen from the nave: as, the east end of the choirstalls.
11. Abbreviated E.
12. In an easterly direction; eastward: as, he went east.
13. Eccles., toward the point conventionally regarded as the east; in the direction of or beyond the altar as seen from the nave: as, the chapel east of the choir is commonly called the Lady Chapel.
14. To move toward the east; turn or veer toward the east.

Wiktionary

1. n. One of the four principal compass points, specifically 90°, conventionally directed to the right on maps; the direction of the rising sun at an equinox.
2. n. the east
3. n. east.
4. adj. Situated or lying in or towards the east; eastward.
5. adj. wind from the east
6. adj. Of or pertaining to the east; eastern.
7. adj. From the East; oriental.
8. adj. eastern, easterly
9. adj. east, eastern, easterly
10. adv. towards the east; eastwards
11. adv. from the east
12. adv. towards the east

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. 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.
2. n. 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.
3. n. 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.
4. adj. Toward the rising sun; or toward the point where the sun rises when in the equinoctial
5. adj. Designating, or situated in, that part of a church which contains the choir or chancel.
6. adv. Eastward.
7. v. To move toward the east; to veer from the north or south toward the east; to orientate.

WordNet 3.0

1. adv. to, toward, or in the east
2. n. the countries of Asia
3. n. the region of the United States lying to the north of the Ohio River and to the east of the Mississippi River
4. adj. situated in or facing or moving toward the east
5. n. the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
6. n. a location in the eastern part of a country, region, or city
7. n. the direction corresponding to the eastward cardinal compass point