oriental: Meaning and Definition of

o•ri•en•tal

Pronunciation: (ôr"ē-en'tl, ōr"-), [key]
— adj.
  1. (usu. cap.) of, pertaining to, or characteristic of the Orient, or East; Eastern.
  2. of the orient or east; eastern.
  3. (cap.)belonging to a geographical division comprising southern Asia and the Malay Archipelago as far as and including the Philippines, Borneo, and Java.
    1. (usu. cap.) 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 esp. in the Orient.
—n.
  1. (usually cap.) a native or inhabitant of the Orient.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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