oriental

o·ri·en·tal  (ôr-ntl, r-)

adj.

1. often Oriental Of or relating to the countries of the Orient or their peoples or cultures; eastern.

2. Oriental Of or designating the biogeographic region that includes Asia south of the Himalaya Mountains and the islands of the Malay Archipelago.

3. Lustrous and valuable: oriental pearls.

4.

a. Of or relating to a genuine or superior gem: an oriental ruby.

b. Relating to or designating corundum that resembles another stone in color.

n.

often Oriental Often Offensive An Asian.

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ori·ental·ly adv.

Usage Note: Asian is now strongly preferred in place of Oriental for persons native to Asia or descended from an Asian people. The usual objection to Orientalmeaning "eastern"is that it identifies Asian countries and peoples in terms of their location relative to Europe. However, this objection is not generally made of other Eurocentric terms such as Near and Middle Eastern. The real problem with Oriental is more likely its connotations stemming from an earlier era when Europeans viewed the regions east of the Mediterranean as exotic lands full of romance and intrigue, the home of despotic empires and inscrutable customs. At the least these associations can give Oriental a dated feel, and as a noun in contemporary contexts (as in the first Oriental to be elected from the district) it is now widely taken to be offensive. However, Oriental should not be thought of as an ethnic slur to be avoided in all situations. As with Asiatic, its use other than as an ethnonym, in phrases such as Oriental cuisine or Oriental medicine, is not usually considered objectionable.

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oriental

Adjective

eastern

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Oriental

Adjective

of the Orient

Noun

a person from the Orient

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	Oriental - a member of an Oriental race; the term is regarded as offensive by Asians (especially by Asian Americans) oriental person derogation, disparagement, depreciation - a communication that belittles somebody or something archaicism, archaism - the use of an archaic expression Asian, Asiatic - a native or inhabitant of Asia Mongolian race, Mongoloid race, Yellow race - an Asian race yellow man - offensive term for an Asian man yellow woman - offensive term for an Asian woman slant-eye, gook - (slang) a disparaging term for an Asian person (especially for North Vietnamese soldiers in the Vietnam War) Evenki, Ewenki - a member of the people inhabiting an area of northern Mongolia and eastern Siberia Mongol, Mongolian - a member of the nomadic peoples of Mongolia
Adj.	1.	oriental - denoting or characteristic of countries of Asia; "oriental civilization" eastern - relating to or characteristic of regions of eastern parts of the world; "Eastern Europe"; "the Eastern religions"

Translations

oriental [ɔːrɪˈɛntl] adj → oriental

oriental [ɔːrɪˈɛntl] adj → oriental(e)

n → Oriental(e)

oriental [ɔːrɪˈɛntl] Orient adj → orientalisch

oriental [ɔːrɪˈɛntl] adj, n → orientale (m/f)