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

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.