the East

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

east /ist/   n. [uncountable; usually: the + ~]

1. Geography, Nautical, Naval Terms one of the four points of the compass, 90° to the right of north.Abbr: E
2. Geography the direction in which this point lies.
3. [usually: East] a region or territory situated in this direction.

adj. 

4. Nautical, Naval Terms directed or proceeding toward the east:
   an east window.
5. Naval Terms coming from the east.
6. lying toward or situated in the east.

adv. 

7. Nautical, Naval Terms to, toward, or in the east:
   heading east.

east•er•ly, adj., adv. 
east•ward /ˈistwɚd/  adj., adv. 
east•wards, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

east  (ēst), n. 

1. Geography, Nautical, Naval Terms a cardinal point of the compass, 90° to the right of north. Abbr: E
2. Geography the direction in which this point lies.
3. (usually cap.) a quarter or territory situated in this direction.
4. Place Names the East:
   • the parts of Asia collectively lying east of Europe and including Asia Minor, Syria, Arabia, India, China, etc.;
     the Orient.
   • the Far East.
   • Government (formerly) the Soviet Union and its allies.
   • the part of the U.S. east of the Mississippi River.
   • the part of the U.S. east of the Allegheny Mountains.
   • New England.
   • , Ancient History, World History [Ancient and Medieval Hist.] the Eastern Roman Empire.

adj. 

5. Nautical, Naval Terms directed or proceeding toward the east.
6. Naval Terms coming from the east:
   an east wind.
7. lying toward or situated in the east:
   the east side.
8. Religion [Eccles.] being at the end of the church where the high altar is:
   an east window.

adv. 

9. Nautical, Naval Terms to, toward, or in the east:
   an island located east of Sumatra; He went east.

• bef. 900; Middle English est, Old English ēast; cognate with German ost, Old Norse austr; akin to Latin aurōra, Greek aúōs (dialect, dialectal variant of ēó̄s, héōs) dawn. See Easter

east′ness, n. 

East., 

1. eastern.

Also, east. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

East / iːst/ noun the East ⇒

1. the continent of Asia regarded as culturally distinct from Europe and the West
2. the countries under Communist rule and formerly under Communist rule, lying mainly in the E hemisphere
   Compare West12

adjective

1. of or denoting the eastern part of a specified country, area, etc

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

east / iːst/ noun

1. the direction along a parallel towards the sunrise, at 90° to north; the direction of the earth's rotation
2. the east ⇒ (often capital) any area lying in or towards the east
   Related adjective(s): oriental
3. (usually capital) the player or position at the table corresponding to east on the compass

adjective

1. situated in, moving towards, or facing the east
2. (esp of the wind) from the east

adverb

1. in, to, or towards the east

Symbol: E Etymology: Old English ēast; related to Old High German ōstar to the east, Old Norse austr, Latin aurora dawn, Greek eōs, Sanskrit usās dawn, morning