oriental

[ awr-ee-en-tl, ohr‐ ]
/ ˌɔr iˈɛn tl, ˌoʊr‐ /

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.

Origin of oriental

1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French < Latin orientālis, equivalent to orient- “east, the east” (see orient) + -ālis -al1

usage note for oriental

See Asian.

OTHER WORDS FROM oriental

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH oriental

Asian Asiatic Oriental (see usage note at Asian)

Words nearby oriental

orichalcum, oriel, oriel window, orient, orient express, oriental, oriental alabaster, oriental almandine, oriental beetle, oriental carpet, oriental cat's-eye

British Dictionary definitions for non-oriental (1 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

British Dictionary definitions for non-oriental (2 of 2)

oriental
/ (ˌɔːrɪˈɛntəl) /

adjective

another word for eastern Compare occidental