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orientation

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o⋅ri⋅en⋅ta⋅tion

[awr-ee-uhn-tey-shuhn, -en-, ohr-]
–noun
1. the act or process of orienting.
2. the state of being oriented.
3. an introduction, as to guide one in adjusting to new surroundings, employment, activity, or the like: New employees receive two days of orientation.
4. Psychology, Psychiatry. the ability to locate oneself in one's environment with reference to time, place, and people.
5. one's position in relation to true north, to points on the compass, or to a specific place or object.
6. the ascertainment of one's true position, as in a novel situation, with respect to attitudes, judgments, etc.
7. Chemistry.
a. the relative positions of certain atoms or groups, especially in aromatic compounds.
b. the determination of the position of substituted atoms or groups in a compound.

Origin:
1830–40; orientate + -ion


o⋅ri⋅en⋅ta⋅tive, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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o·ri·en·ta·tion   (ôr'ē-ěn-tā'shən, -ən-, ōr'-)   
n.  
  1. The act of orienting or the state of being oriented.

  2. Location or position relative to the points of the compass.

  3. The construction of a church so that its longitudinal axis has an east-west direction with the main altar usually at the eastern end.

  4. The direction followed in the course of a trend, movement, or development.

  5. A tendency of thought; a general inclination: a Marxist orientation.

  6. Sexual orientation.

    1. An adjustment or adaptation to a new environment, situation, custom, or set of ideas.

    2. Introductory instruction concerning a new situation: orientation for incoming students.

  7. Psychology Awareness of the objective world in relation to one's self.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ori·en·ta·tion
Pronunciation: "Or-E-&n-'tA-sh&n, "or-, -"en-
Function: noun
1 a : the act or process oforienting or of being oriented b : the state of being oriented
2 : a usually general or lasting direction of thought, inclination, or interest —see SEXUAL ORIENTATION
3 : change of position by organs, organelles, or organisms in response toexternal stimulus
4 : awareness of the existing situation with reference to time, place, and identity of persons orientation> —ori·en·ta·tion·al /-shn&l, -sh&n-&l/ adjectiveori·en·ta·tion·al·ly /-E/ adverb
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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orientation o·ri·en·ta·tion (ôr'ē-ěn-tā'shən, -ən-)
n.

  1. The act of orienting or the state of being oriented.

  2. Location or position relative to the points of the compass.

  3. The relative position of one atom with respect to another to which it is connected.

  4. Sexual orientation.

  5. Introductory instruction concerning a new situation.

  6. Awareness of the objective world in relation to one's self.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
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